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Buried Dreams: The Hoosac Tunnel and the Demise of the Railroad AgeThe Hoosac railroad tunnel in the mountains of northwestern Massachusetts was a nineteenth century engineering and construction marvel, on par with the Brooklyn Bridge, Transcontinental Railroad, and Erie Canal. The longest tunnel in the Western Hemisphere at the time (4. 75 miles), it took nearly twenty five years (18511875), almost two hundred casualties, and tens of millions of dollars to build. Yet it failed to deliver on its grandiose promise of
The Hoosac railroad tunnel in the mountains of northwestern Massachusetts was a nineteenth-century engineering and construction marvel, on par with the Brooklyn Bridge, Transcontinental Railroad, and Erie Canal. The longest tunnel in the Western Hemisphere at the time (4.75 miles), it took nearly twenty-five years (1851‒1875), almost two hundred casualties, and tens of millions of dollars to build. Yet it failed to deliver on its grandiose promise of economic renewal for the commonwealth, and thus is little known today. Andrew R. Black's Buried Dreams refreshes public memory of the project, explaining how a plan of such magnitude and cost came to be in the first place, what forces sustained its completion, and the factors that inhibited its success.
Black digs into the special case of Massachusetts, a state disadvantaged by nature and forced repeatedly to reinvent itself to succeed economically. The Hoosac Tunnel was just one of the state's efforts in this cycle of decline and rejuvenation, though certainly the strangest. Black also explores the intense rivalry among Eastern Seaboard states for the spoils of western expansion in the post‒Erie Canal period. His study interweaves the lure of the West, the competition between Massachusetts and archrival New York, the railroad boom and collapse, and the shifting ground of state and national politics. The psychic makeup of Americans before and after the Civil War heavily influenced public perceptions of the tunnel; by the time it was finished, Black contends, the indomitable triumphalism that had given birth to the Hoosac had faded to skepticism and cynicism. Anticipated economic benefits never arrived, and Massachusetts eventually sold the tunnel for only a fraction of its cost to a private railroad company. Buried Dreams tells a story of America's reckoning with the perils of impractical idealism, the limits of technology to bend nature to its will, and grand endeavors untempered by humility.Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: LSU Press
Published: 10/14/2020
ISBN: 9780807173572
Pages: 248
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.00d
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4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 23 reviews
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★★★★★ 5
Very enlightening for those who truly appreciate creativity more than cleverness!
Format: Paperback
I love how the author almost redefines creativity .and sheds new light (for me, at least!)on what what real-for-true creativity is and how it benefits individuals and society. It's far more than simply brightening up a room with new wallpaper and curtains -- it describes how genuine creativity requires a thorough working knowledge of the fundamentals of any given field before one can truly create something new or better, and it reveals how those of us who aren't capable of creating something ourselves can yet be part of the process by demonstrating appreciation and support for those who create, whether as sponsors, patrons, or even just ardent fans!
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Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2023
★★★★★ 3
instructive but limited
The testimonies of creative people that give this book its flesh and blood provide fascinating examples of creative people at work. That said, if a journalist had written the book, it would be more readable, and I don't think any less of an intellectual contribution. Moreover, the definition of creativity is elitist and stunts the topic (as observed by other reviewers): "Creativity is any act, idea, or product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an existing domain into a new one. And the definition of a creative person is: someone whose thoughts or actions change a domain, or establish a new domain. It is important to remember, however, that a domain cannot be changed without the explicit or implicit consent of a field responsible for it." Given the people interviewed, much more needs to be said about the function of social institutions in promoting creativity. Many of the accomplishments lauded in this book would never have happened without grant-making agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, HHMI) or non-profit employers like research universities and hospitals. To offer just one obvious example of the difference made by one's institutional context, the author had advanced students to help him do his research for this book. The elitism of the definition is even clearer in the role that marketplace plays as a judge of creativity. None of us buys books from amazon.com because some official group validated amazon.com as a good idea. We didn't wait for computer programers to affirm and certify it. Amazon.com is not deemed successful because it impressed its peers. It is successful because millions of us purchase goods through it. Similarly, auto-executives did not make the minivan a successful idea, millions of shoppers did. (Obviously I don't think the marketplace fits into the author's definition of creativity. If 300 million American consumers comprise a domain with 300 million judges, then the word no longer has any useful meaning.) The definition also precludes that countless ephemeral acts of creativity that take place daily. I think instantly of two women I have worked with who were great at holidays. Their clever costumes or decorations brightened my day, adding a little element of surprise and delight. Their acts of creativity don't meet the definitions of this book. The way that creativity is defined in this book is simply a filtering mechanism by which the author selected the people he would interview. It is not a definition of creativity. It is only a description of a subsection of creativity, the kind where institutions provide paychecks to highly practiced individuals to work hard at what they love. I also found little new to take away and apply to my own social existence inside the organization where I work. Perhaps I can summarize my dissatisfaction by observing that the subtitle sets out an agenda for the psychology of creativity, but the definitional filter is intrinsically social. This disconnection sets the book up to fail. So, count this as a negative review, yes, but I did enjoy reading the testimonies of the people interviewed, and the author adds some value in the generalizations he draws. Still, much, much more could have been said.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2012
★★★★★ 5
Wise and Complete
Format: Paperback
I've read a lot of books, too many, on creativity, and this is by far the best, the most complete, the most interesting. The idea that creativity comes out of immersion in a domain or field seems absolutely right and the idea missed by so many other writers. I'm a writer and a painter and I've learned that I'm not going to be any better than the work I've come to know and love, that I have to live in that work. If you want to be a better string player, play with a better ensemble. In many ways a creative person is someone who is in a conversation with what has come before, with work that excites her, teaches her, challenges her. This book makes that plain. But he has other insights as well, especially about the creative personality, the interesting dichotomies. Just read the book.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2015
★★★★★ 4
Creativity which has the power to change the world
A few caveats to those who are generally interested in creativity studies: Csikszentmihalyi's analysis and discussion of creativity does not directly relate to those who are personally creative. People who enjoy engaging in creative activities are not demoted, in his terms, but are simply not a part of the study. It is unfortunate that his language makes it seem this way; he distinguishes between the two by saying that Creativity has the power to shape a domain or the world, while creativity applies to those who enjoy coming up with new recipes, who are engaged in research that may not change a domain, but may "tweak" it, etc.
What he is trying to discover are the underlying principles and traits of creativity in those whose work has made a significant change. Think Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Strand: people who are either widely known for their influence, or who have been influential within their area or domain.
This book provides an interesting view into the minds and work habits of Creative individuals, and concludes by offering general advice to those who wish to make their own lives and work more creative. It is a useful book, but one which requires a great deal of supplemental reading, in order to truly engage in creativity studies.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2003
★★★★★ 5
Fun easy to read way to see how the wealthy stay wealthy
Format: Paperback
Mark Quann’s Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes is an eye-opening, engaging, and highly informative guide that challenges everything most of us think we know about taxes, wealth, and the financial system. With his "Buy, Borrow, Die" strategy, Quann presents a bold new way to build and preserve wealth—legally and ethically—while minimizing tax liability.
One of the things that really stands out about this book is how approachable and enjoyable it is to read. Quann has a knack for breaking down complex financial concepts into bite-sized, digestible pieces. Whether you're a finance newbie or have been managing your own portfolio for years, you'll find the material easy to grasp and even fun to read. The tone is conversational, and the author's humor and wit shine through, making the book a far cry from the dry, overly technical finance books out there.
What I loved most was how Quann exposes the ways in which the banking industry and the government have duped ordinary people into believing we have no choice but to pay exorbitant taxes. He takes a deep dive into the financial system and reveals how the wealthiest individuals have been using clever strategies for years to legally avoid paying significant taxes. The “Buy, Borrow, Die” method isn’t just some gimmick; it’s a smart and effective way to sidestep the tax traps most of us fall into.
Quann’s perspective will make you question everything from your investment strategies to the way you think about saving and building wealth. This book empowers you with a strategy that not only helps you protect your wealth but also ensures that you're making the most of what you've worked so hard for. By the end, you’ll realize that we’ve been sold a false narrative about taxes and money, and there’s a much smarter way to approach wealth-building.
Overall, Be Smart Pay Zero Taxes is a must-read for anyone who wants to get ahead financially. It’s a wake-up call wrapped in a fun and easy-to-read package. If you're ready to take control of your financial future and start building wealth like the ultra-wealthy, this book is the perfect place to start. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025