Citation Analysis in Research Evaluation (Information Science and Knowledge Management)

Book Description

This book deals with the evaluation of scholarly research performance, and focuses on the contribution of scholarly work to the advancement of scholarly knowledge. Its principal question is: how can citation analysis be used properly as a tool in the assessment of such a contribution?

Citation analysis involves the construction and application of a series of indicators of the ‘impact’, ‘influence’ or ‘quality’ of scholarly work, derived from references cited in footnotes or bibliographies of scholarly research publications. It describes primarily the use of data extracted from the Science Citation Index and the Web of Science, published by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)/Thomson Scientific. But many aspects to which this book dedicates attention relate to citation analysis in general,

It provides a wide range of important facts, and corrects a number of common misunderstandings about citation analysis. It introduces basic notions and distinctions, and deals both with theoretical and technical aspects, and with its applicability in various policy contexts, at the level of individual scholars, research groups, departments, institutions, national scholarly systems, disciplines or subfields, and scholarly journals.

Although the major part of the analysis relates to the basic science – a domain in which citation analysis is used most frequently – this book also addresses its uses and limits in the applied and technical sciences, social sciences and humanities.

It reveals the enormous potential of quantitative, bibliometric analyses of the scholarly literature for a deeper understanding of scholarly activity and performance, and highlights their policy relevance. But this book is also critical, underlines the limits of citation analysis in research evaluation, and issues warnings for potential misuse. It proposes criteria for proper use of citation analysis as a research evaluation tool.

In order to be used properly as a research evaluation tool, it is essential that all participants have insight into the nature of citation analysis, how its indicators are constructed and calculated, what the various theoretical positions state about what they measure, and what are their potentialities and limitations, particularly in relation to peer review. This book aims at providing such insight.

Speaking only to ourselves? Citation analysis of 'Journal of Leisure Research' and 'Leisure Sciences.'.: An article from: Journal of Leisure Research

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Speaking only to ourselves? Citation analysis of 'Journal of Leisure Research' and 'Leisure Sciences.'.: An article from: Journal of Leisure Research
Diane M. Samdahl , and Judith J. Kelly
Manufacturer: National Recreation and Park Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Leisure Research, published by National Recreation and Park Association on March 22, 1999. The length of the article is 3833 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: KEYWORDS: Leisure research, citation analysis

Citation Details
Title: Speaking only to ourselves? Citation analysis of 'Journal of Leisure Research' and 'Leisure Sciences.'.
Author: Diane M. Samdahl
Publication: Journal of Leisure Research (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1999
Publisher: National Recreation and Park Association
Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Page: 171(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Business - management research characteristics and collection evaluation: A citation analysis of dissertations

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Business - management research characteristics and collection evaluation: A citation analysis of dissertations
Charles J Popovich
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Evaluative bibliometrics: The use of publication and citation analysis in the evaluation of scientific activity

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Evaluative bibliometrics: The use of publication and citation analysis in the evaluation of scientific activity
Francis Narin
Manufacturer: Computer Horizons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Research | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006WJ6HA

Book Description

Within the field of strategic management there is increasing awareness of the limitations of rational approaches to decision making. Managing in a climate of continuous change and uncertainty has turned attention to the role of managerial cognition. The Competent Organization explores the nature of cognition in organizations and focuses upon: the behaviour and characteristics of top management teams; organizational learning and memory; distributed cognition and information markets; the significance of knowledge management and tacit learning; key competencies such as emotional intelligence, information searching, decision making heuristics, creativity, intuition; and how organizations might be helped to become more cognitively effective.

"This trail-blazing book presents a clearly written, extensive survey of research about many psychological aspects of strategic analyses. It provocatively argues for the existence and practical impact of a 'strategic competence' that integrates rationality, intuition, emotion, and rules of thumb. In a world where technological developments are demanding ever faster strategic reactions, and where globalization is making markets and organizations more and more complex, to understand the psychology of strategizing has become imperative. This book will attract and stimulate organizational psychologists, strategic-management scholars, and management consultants as well as corporate learning officers." - Professor Bill Starbuck, Past (USA) Academy of Management President and Professor at Stern Business School, New York.

"the first comprehensive treatment of a newly emerging field of study that uses established psychological and social principles to understand and begin to improve the processes of strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and organizational learning. Reading it was invigorating!" Professor Susan E. Jackson, School of Management and Labor Relations, Rutgers University.

"A path-breaking work: comprehensive, visionary - and accessible." Professor Mark Easterby-Smith, Lancaster University Management School.

"A refreshingly critical perspective on the origins of strategic competence. Hodgkinson and Sparrow's knowledge management lens breathes coherence into a fragmented body of work...a broad rich overview of the field of managerial and organizational cognition." Kathleen Sutcliffe, Associate Professor, Uiversity of Michigan Business School.

"a significant step toward a trans-disciplinary understanding of strategic management in this acessible, well-written book which provides an attractive new vocabulary for understanding how organization competencies are grounded in cognitive processes." (From the foreword by Anne S. Huff, University if Colorado at Denver and Cranfield School of Management)

Competent Organization: A Psychological Analysis of the Strategic Management Process

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Competent Organization: A Psychological Analysis of the Strategic Management Process
Gerard P. Hodgkinson
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MVFCVE

Book Description

Cryosols occupy a unique part of the earth and have properties greatly different from other soils. They also occur where the greatest impact of global warming is predicted. They have been studied extensively in Russia, Canada and in other regions. This is, however, the first book which brings together experts from all fields in order to focus on these unique soils. It will undoubtedly provide one of the best sources of information available about these soils.

Book Description

From its inception, this NSF-sponsored learning system was hailed as a welcome departure from traditional approaches, both in terms of organization and delivery of content. BioInquiry tells the story of the process of science, and so is organized to trace scientists' journey to biological understanding, beginning with Darwin and evolution. The Third Edition's unique integration of multimedia - developed in tandem with the text and designed to provide additional dimension to key topics - is now seamlessly housed in the powerful engine of Egrade Plus. The result is an integrated product that presents a more realistic approach to what non-science majors need to be informed citizens and scientifically literate consumers of information.

Bioinquiry 1.0: Making Connections in Biology

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Bioinquiry 1.0: Making Connections in Biology
Nancy Pruitt , Larry S. Underwood , and William Surver
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

BioInquiry : Making Connections in Biology, TEXT ONLY, 2nd Edition, pb, 2003

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BioInquiry : Making Connections in Biology, TEXT ONLY, 2nd Edition, pb, 2003
Pruitt/Underwood/Surver
Manufacturer: AI 0471202282 (w/ CD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MM46E2

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Bioinquiry Making Connections in Biology
Nancy L Pruitt
Manufacturer: WILEY, JOHN @ & SONS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SNPC1G

BioInquiry, Take Note!: Making Connections in Biology

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BioInquiry, Take Note!: Making Connections in Biology
Nancy L. Pruitt , Larry S. Underwood , and William Surver
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Bioinquiry: Making Connections in Biology, 3rd Edition

ASIN: 0471236683

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BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology
Nancy L. Pruitt , Larry S. Underwood , and William Surver
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0471202282

Book Description

Welcome to the fascinating world of biology. Learning about living things is like piecing together a complex puzzle. BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology, a National Science Foundation-supported project (DUE #97-52454), was designed to help you assemble these pieces, to see their connections, and to reveal the beautiful and compelling pictures they create. The text, CD, and web site were developed together from the start to create an engaging, active learning experience. You'll take a virtual tour of the cell, travel with Darwin to the Galápagos Islands, transcribe DNA, perform powerful experiments, and link to the latest biological research on web sites around the world. You'll experience for yourself the profound biological discoveries that forever changed the way we think about life. Enjoy your explorations!

BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology. Second Edition.

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BioInquiry: Making Connections in Biology. Second Edition.
Nancy L. Pruitt
Manufacturer: Publisher Unknown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UY8CN8

Web Site to Accompany Bioinquiry Learning System 1.2: Making Connections in Biology

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Web Site to Accompany Bioinquiry Learning System 1.2: Making Connections in Biology
PRUITT
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Bioinquiry - Making Connections in Biology Tr

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Bioinquiry - Making Connections in Biology Tr
Nancy L. Pruitt
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Bioinquiry 1.2: Making Connections in Biology

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Bioinquiry 1.2: Making Connections in Biology
Nancy Pruitt , Larry S. Underwood , and William Surver
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Searching for springboks? Chasing big cats? This innovative, all-in-one safari guide will help you to find, identify and understand Southern Africa's amazing wildlife. Covers: Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Where?
discover what's there and where to find it
pinpoint directions and inside tips for Southern Africa's top destinations
62 colour maps, including all the famous game parks

What?
hundreds of colour wildlife photos show you what's what
easy-to-read background information on animal behaviour and ecology

How?
the lowdown on planning, itineraries, techniques and equipment
expert advice on photography, safaris, whale-watching and birdwatching

Customer Reviews:

very useful for picking out where and when to go.......2007-06-20

If you want to go to Africa, but aren't sure where or when to go, this is a very useful book. Even if you are using a travel agent and expert tour company, this book will help you evaluate alternatives and enable you to make intelligent suggestions.

The book is also useful when you're back home and trying to figure out what kind of animal is in your photo.

Average customer rating:

This book COULD have changed my life....

Totally Awesome!

WOW!

Raising an All-american: Helping Your Child Excel in Athletics (And in Life)
Devin Durrant , and George Durrant
Manufacturer: Spring Creek Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Basketball | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Optimum Performance Training: Basketball: Play Like a Pro with the Ultimate Custom Workout Used by NBA Players and Teams

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1932898417

Customer Reviews:

This book COULD have changed my life...........2005-11-01

This book COULD have changed my life if my parents had read it when I was a child. I never played sports. I was an "academic" kid but the lessons and principles that Durrant shares here are applicable to any kind of pursuit that your child may desire. I was inspired by his suggestions and have used his stories to teach my daughters, one who is on the swim team and one who is only an occasional tennis player. This book is an excellent resource for parents who want their children to have the chance to excel in whatever they choose to do.

Totally Awesome!.......2005-07-20

I am a grandparent and this book was totally inspiring. It makes me want to help my grandchildren even more than before. It gave a lot of good ideas for both parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, anyone who is involved in a childs life. It was written well, and it has brought much discussion to our household.

WOW!.......2005-06-15

This is a great book. Buy it for your father for father's day, for your mother for mother's day, for your son or daughter for their birthday, for your friend for Christmas, or just for you. You deserve a nice little treat. The fact is, anybody can enjoy this book. It is fabulous and I HIGHLY reccommend it. Buy it as soon as you can. It is great!

Book Description

Accepted writing style conventions change very slowly, but they do change. That is all the more reason why this favorite reference book for students, writers, and educators requires periodic updating. In this new edition, the authors review the fundamentals of correct sentence structure, then present twenty basic sentence patterns that encompass virtually every effective way of writing simple, compound, and complex sentences. They give advice on ways to vary rhythm and sentence patterns to produce a more interesting writing style. Example sentences as well as brief essays by recognized writers are presented and analyzed. This brand-new edition, updated with many contemporary examples of fine writing style, will inspire both students and seasoned writers to make their own essays sing.

Customer Reviews:

It hasn't arrived.......2007-09-14

I would dearly like to review this book, but it hasn't arrived. Although Amazon's Where's My Stuff page said that there is no outstanding orders, the time estimate said it should arrive (New Zealand) between 4 Sept - 14 Sept, so I waited. The shipment was sent 14 August. I have requested assistance through Support, but haven't heard at all from Amazon. Generally, I have found Amazon very prompt, and delivery (International Standard) very good - about 2- 3 weeks. I hope that I will hear soon. Better, I'd like to post a more positive review for this book (and the other that was shipped with it).

Overflows with useful sentence ideas.......2007-01-18

"Thought is the blossom; language, the bud; action, the fruit." (Emerson)

Having taken no previous thought to sentence style, I was thrilled with the lessons in this book; my writing has greatly improved. Consider the book's example of sentence pattern number eight: "Because it may seem difficult at first, because it may sound awkward or forced, because it often creates lengthy sentences where the thought 'gets lost,' this pattern seems forbidding to some writers, but it isn't all that hard; try it." I've since used that pattern in my own nonfiction book.

Theory meets practice........2007-01-04

Chapter one covers sentence parts briefly and is useful for anyone who needs a brief grammar refresher. Then the authors explore twenty sentence patterns, including several variations. What I liked most in this book is that after each pattern you will find explanations, examples (including professional samples) and exercises. Pattern layout is simple but effective and will allow you to write almost any sentence in English. All you need to do is to apply these styling patterns to your own sentences.

Excellent concise English power tools.......2006-07-10

I hate other verbose grammar and style books. This one is well written with high skim value. Excellent examples and examples from famous sources. These tools will add value to all of your writing. There are blank spaces for exercises which I highly recommend that you complete.

Creative sentence writing.......2006-03-26

This book offers students a way to create sentences that add interest and style to their writing. Even nonstudents can benefit from this book.

Average customer rating:

Recommended, but just barely
A useful text
Some good suggestions... for $7
Marvelous primer, style guide and grammar refresher
A Simple, Practical, Powerful Manual

Art of Styling Sentences
Marie L. Waddell
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Usage | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 081200440X

Customer Reviews:

Recommended, but just barely.......2002-03-09

The authors deserve credit for having the right idea. Imitation is an efficient way to teach writing. However, even though _Styling_Sentences_ has some good tips and will help any young writer to improve, on the whole, it is incomplete, largely because of the authors' own incomplete understanding of syntax. The idea that writing consists of taking an S-V-O "kernel sentence" and elaborating it is fine, but weak. It's too simple. More useful for students is to learn the sentence in terms of its and its clauses' functions: purpose, concession, proviso, etc.--all the things students used to learn from Latin. After that, one can add modifiers and appositives and begin discussing the artful placement of all these pieces. That's not what this book does, though; it foregoes a functional analysis of sentence patterns for a purely formal one. Where style is a matter of form, this approach succeeds. The section on ordering a series is one such example, and in it the authors do an excellent job of showing writers how to avoid monotony. Likewise, the treatment of punctuation is done well, driving home the subtle differences between the comma, dash, and parentheses. Also good, but not exactly great, are the sections on modifier placement and repetition of key terms. But the final section, on "assorted patterns," is an eclectic and hardly exhaustive mix of sentence types where the authors' lack of organizational principle shows up most clearly. In that section another problem with this book becomes obvious: sometimes sentence patterns can't be studied without considering overarching rhetorical strategies. To learn that subject, I strongly recommend _Style:_10_Lessons_, by Wright. _Styling_Sentences_ will probably be more useful to you if read as a supplement to that book.

_Styling_ has some other minor flaws. The diagrams, created on a word processor, are poorly drawn and confusing. The authors' decision to label the sentence patterns by number seems to me to add a needless and arbitary layer of complexity. I shudder at the thought of students analyzing papers in this way: "Here you use a #9a, followed by a #6...." Far easier to use, and certainly easier to remember, would be simple descriptive names. If teachers need something shorter for marking papers, they could just abbreviate. Finally, some of the authors' explanations are simply bad. Likening a comma to a "hiccup" is misleading (a hiccup is nothing like the short, natural pause in speech a comma represents), and look at how they explain the absolute construction or the difference between periodic and loose sentences. Moments like those convince me that the authors, for professors of English, are not very well schooled in traditional grammar and syntax, and need to get their book to a grammarian quickly for a drastic overhaul.

A useful text.......2001-07-20

I've recently read a few books pertaining to sentence structure, styling, and punctuation; however, most of them weren't very useful. They just weren't what I wanted or needed. The twenty patterns stressed in this book have helped me tremendously. But don't stop there. Don't forget to check out the appendix at the end of the book. Many of us (myself included) have felt the need at one time or another for a useful guide on the proper codes of punctuation. The Appendix here is one of the best guides I've seen on this topic. When should you use a colon, semicolon, comma, or dash? Many of us get confused with these, esecially when writing compound sentences. Although I love to write, I am far from being perfect at it; I still have a lot to learn. Don't we all? 'The Art Of Styling Sentences' has assisted me a great deal and has been the most useful text on grammatical prose that I've read to date.

Some good suggestions... for $7.......2000-07-31

There are few good ideas presented, but not many. The book doesn't explain why a certain sentence pattern would be powerful or useful in a particular circumstance. Some sentence patterns are similar or have similar function. The book emphasizes a lot on the correct syntax to create a certain sentence structure, which I consider unnecessary because I my grammar is not the problem. I guess it is OK for $7.

Marvelous primer, style guide and grammar refresher.......1999-08-22

I agree entirely with the comments of the previous interviewer. This book is one of a kind! I first read it, worked its examples and exercises, and devoured it in 1994 when I decided to take my writing abmitions seriously. This non-pretentious book honed my skills and solidified my style.

Five years later my first book is being published and I am working regularly as a free lance reporter and writer. The lessons learned form "The Art of Styling Sentences" carried me through the birthing of my writing career and are still with me. I just finished reading it for the second time and when I feel my powers of writing persausion slipping, I get it out and work some of the exercises. I keep it on my reference shelf next to my my dictionary, thesaurus, and "Chicago Manual of Style." For me there is no substitute. Writers young and old, published and unpublished buy a copy, read it, burn it into your brain and reap the rewards.

A Simple, Practical, Powerful Manual.......1996-11-16

There are two types of books on writing: theoretical and practical. While the former is necessary -- and in many cases quite good -- the latter is what gets down to the nuts and bolts of writing. "The Art of Styling Sentences" is such a book.

The book is grouped around 20 different sentence patterns: "Compound Sentence: semicolon, no conjunction" and "A variation: same word repeated in parallel structure" are but two examples. Each pattern is dissected, analyzed, and the reader is given several exercises to practice. Grammar rules are stressed (comma around an appositive, don't you know), and multiple variations on each pattern are offered.

Sound dry? Maybe just a bit. But I promise your writing will improve almost immediately. I read it several years ago, and today I can't imagine what I would do without the sentence forms I learned from this book.

"The Art of Styling Sentences" isn't a glamour book. It doesn't fill your head with enticing images of literary glory. But it's a simple, practical, down-to-earth guide on how to write better, cleaner, and with more impact. On my desk, I have four books that I consider indispensable to the craft of writing. "The Art of Styling Sentences" is one of them

Book Description

In today's world of jet airplanes and smooth highways, it is nearly impossible to imagine the hardships faced by the thousands of people who headed west along the great Oregon Trail. In this detailed and engaging account, historian David Dary recounts the full saga of the trail's history, from its creation in the early 1800's, to its peak during the '49 Gold Rush, its rapid decline following the completion of the transcontinental railroad, and finally, its revival as a modern day historical treasure. Dary introduces us to the pioneers: trailblazers, fur-traders, and missionaries, who made the first journeys to Oregon County, an internationally disputed territory comprising present-day Washington, Oregon, and California. We learn of the road's steadily increasing popularity, as economic problems or the promise of adventure and wealth lead thousands of homesteaders, gold-rushers, and entrepreneurs to pile their hopes and dreams into wagons and head west. Using journals and letters, as well as company and expedition reports, public records and newspaper stories, Dary takes us inside the day to day experiences of the travelers, as they risked ruin at every step from disease, weather, and human deceit. Trail. Through Dary's expert and comprehensive history, we learn how the events of the day turned a small trickle of pioneering men and women into the greatest mass migration in American history.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, but not fully satisfying.......2006-11-09

I will not go into the factual errors in the book. Those have been described by other reviewers. Mr. Dary's book is occasionally excellent. It has two appendices on place names along the Oregon Trail and its various cutoffs; and the location and a description of the cutoffs and other roads of the Oregon Trail. These appendices will be very useful to the reader who wants a handy reference tool for locating on a modern map places of interest or import to the emigrants. These appendices alone could justify to some the purchase of this book. Also, the description of the decline of the trail and it resurgence is very good. I have five criticisms of Mr. Dary's book: (1) The cursory description on the "why" thousands sold everything, left family and home to travel to an unknown land through unknown but certain dangers. The only overarching explanation Mr. Dary gives that spurred the overlanders was a poor economy. Surely not everybody was running from bad credit or the bank! There must have been other reasons, or combingation of reasons. (2) What reasons pulled so many initially to Oregon rather than California? Was it only because California was Mexican territory? (3) I also yearned for a greater description of the Indian tribes the overlanders interacted with, the effect upon the Indians of so many strangers going through their lands, what the perception emigrants had of Indians when they started their journey, and what perceptions the Indians had of the emigrants. (4) Mr. Dary occasionally switches from discussing one emigrant party to discussing a few lines later another party travelling in a different season or location. This aburpt shifting in people, places and times left my mind with a muddle of names, places and dates that ran together without much distinction. (5) The maps are adequate, but small and most have too little detail to be of much use in orienting the text to the geography. Another book which I suggest those interested in this topic read is Frank McLynn's "Wagons West". Mr. McLynn's book goes into greater detail than Mr. Dary of the "why" thousands travelled west before the Civil War (about 30 pages of discussion); Mr. McLynn gives a greater description of how they travelled including the construction of the wagons and tack; a good discussion of the perils and diseases which the emigrants faced; the affect of the Trail upon the resident Indians; and the particular challenges, rigors and pleasures of women on the Trail (38 pages). Mr. McLynn's book covers the Oregon Trail, the several trails to California, and the Mormon emigration to Utah. So, you get a broader scope of the migration of people, how the various trails related to each other, and where the emigrants on those various trails entertwined. Also, Mr. McLynn's attention to the detail of camp life (for example, he describes the origin of circling wagons)is fascinating. Ms. McLynn spends considerably more energy than Mr. Dary describing in detail the travels and travails of particular emigrants and their parties. Mr. McLynn's narrative style describing individual groups is not only filled with details, it sometimes borders the "can't-put-it-down". The bottom line on Mr. Dary's book for me: he is a talented writer that gives the flavor of what the emigrants went through in their journey, but not much more; a description of the "Trail" and its various "cutoff"s that at times is disjointed and requires having an atlas in your lap if you wish to follow where the emigrants are in his narrative; somewhat useful maps, but most need greater detail; excellent appendices... you'll love these; and very good description of the decline and rebirth of the Oregon Trail during and after the Civil War. A book worth to purchase and read. But, if you are going to only read one book on this subject, purchase and read Mr. McLynn's "Wagons West". Happy Trails!

Going West in the 1840s.......2005-04-05

This book attracts from the beginning with a beautiful map on the inside covers showing the route of the Oregon Trail and its offshoots from Missouri to Oregon and California. Two hundred and fifty thousand people traveled over the trail by covered wagon during its heyday from the 1840s to the 1860s and more than 2,000 accounts of the passage were written by the emigrants themselves.

The author begins with a brief description of the Chinook Indians who lived at the terminus of the trail where the Columbia River joins the Pacific. He describes the early European voyages to the region and then quickly moves to the era of the fur trappers and mountain men. This can be a bit dry given the multiplicity of travelers and their trips.

The book hits its stride with Chapter 6 and the description of the emigrants traveling over the trail in the 1840s and 1850s. The author quotes extensively from the accounts of the emigrants themselves. The most touching of the stories is the two-page account of Catherine Sager of the death of her mother and father along the trail. Later in the book we encounter Catherine as a captive of the Cayuse Indians. I am inspired now to seek out Catherine Sager's book and read her full story.

In the final chapter, "Rebirth of the Trail," the author tells the fascinating story of Ezra Meeker who traveled the trail in 1852 and decided to retrace his path in 1900 at age 77. Meeker's epic covered wagon re-voyage excited interest in the old trail and created a movement to preserve portions of the route, some of it still marked with the wagon wheel ruts of the emigrants.

The book is well illustrated with photographs, maps, and art. Appendices describe related trails, historical landmarks, and there is even a glossary of 19th century words and phrases that might not be familiar to a modern reader. This is an excellent and attractive book for the general reader.

Smallchief

Just the facts.......2005-01-13

Dary reports in great detail the daily life of settlers heading west. He did a prodigious amount of research. However, the details are tedious and incorrect at times. I yearned for an insightful observation or at least a summary statement. He offered none.

Needed more fact checking.......2005-01-11

This book is aimed at the general reader and, as such, is organized in a clear manner. It covers the trail period well and, in what is unique, also covers the efforts to preserve the trail up to the current Oregon-California Trails Association. That said, the book needed to be edited again for factual errors. There are way too many. They range from trivial: Shoshone Falls is north of the Oregon Trail not south; Idaho was not included in the list of present day states made from the Old Oregon Country; to more important: Jim Bridger did not SELL Fort Bridger to the Mormons in 1853; to a real howler: blaming the 1854 Ward massacre in present day southern Idaho on the Yakama Indians, instead of the Shoshones (and by the way there were two survivors). It's too bad. This could have been a good general history for the non-specialist with a little more care. As it is it is OK as an overview, but be careful with the details.

Should have researched better........2004-12-22

In spite of positive reviews from the literary world, I found it impossible to finish reading this book. Yes, there are some interesting facts in it, but on page 53 there is a mistake that, for me, ruined the entire book. The erroneous sentence is, "Late in the fall of 1820, Charles Floyd, who had been a member of Lewis and Clark's expedition, visited his cousin, Dr. John Floyd, a Virginia congressman." To me, this is a huge error, compounded by the fact that it was incredibly easy to research the truth. Anyone who is seriously interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition knows Charles Floyd was the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die during their trip. He died of "bilious collick" in August of 1804. As a result, he couldn't have talked with Dr. John Floyd in 1820. (No, there weren't two Charles Floyds on the trip. That, too, is easily researched.) This error killed Mr. Dary's book for me. After seeing such a bonehead mistake, I found it impossible to trust anything else in the book and I finally gave up reading it after only 60 pages.

Average customer rating:

The Oregon Trail: An American Saga
David Dary
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKV4IS

Average customer rating:

The Oregon Trail: an American Saga
David Dary
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N66JZQ

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