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5 books match the query 'Baker, William J.'

cover of Genera Palmarum: The Evolution and Classification of Palms

Genera Palmarum

The Evolution and Classification of Palms

John Dransfield, Natalie W. Uhl, Conny B. Asmussen, William J. Baker, Madeline Harley, and Carl Lewis

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2008

Palms are iconic in our culture, representing everything from victory to vacation. And for nearly three decades, Genera Palmarum has been the stand-out reference for anyone interested in this economically and horticulturally important plant family. Now, this award-winning book has been completely updated and revised, bringing it in line with new research and newly discovered genera.
In this new edition, genus treatments now include complete descriptions, nomenclature, and etymology, as well as discussions of diversity, distribution, phylogeny, morphology, uses and ecology. All genera are fully illustrated with full-color photographs alongside analytic illustrations, distribution maps, and even electron micrographs of pollen. An updated introduction provides readers with essential background information via authoratative essays on the structure of palms, their chemistry, their history, and much more.
Fully revised for a new generation of researchers and gardening enthusiasts, Genera Palmarum continues to be the gold-standard reference work on palms.
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cover of Jesse Owens: An American Life

Jesse Owens

An American Life

William J. Baker

University of Illinois Press, 2006

Born the tenth child of a poor Southern sharecropper and barely able to read or write, Jesse Owens used his astonishing drive and athletic ability to win an unprecedented four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He became an international superstar overnight and exploded Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy in the process. This Press edition of the William J. Baker's acclaimed work offers the most complete and probing biography of Owens ever written, vividly detailing the successes and failures of this complex and troubled but ultimately indomitable figure.
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cover of Sports in the Western World

Sports in the Western World

William J. Baker

University of Illinois Press, 1982

"Human beings cannot live by bread alone. They dream and they strive. Not merely for warmth do they take fire from the altar of the gods; curiosity is their glory and their pain. They climb mountains, cross uncharted seas, and explore outer space for reasons other than material benefit. They thrive on challenges. Seekers of laurel, they especially measure themselves in competition with fellow humans. Where there is no contest, they create one. From deep within, and from millennia past, comes the impulse for athletic competition. This book is about the history of competitive sports in the Western world--from ancient religious ritual and simple tribal contests to highly organized modern spectacles."--From the introduction
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cover of The New American Sport History: Recent Approaches and Perspectives

The New American Sport History

Recent Approaches and Perspectives

Edited by S. W. Pope

University of Illinois Press, 1996

In this collection, sixteen scholars explore topics as diverse as the historical debate over black athletic superiority, the selling of sport in society, the eroticism of athletic activity, sexual fears of women athletes, and the marketing of the marathon. 

In line with the changing nature of sport history as a field of study, the essays focus less on traditional topics and more on themes of class, gender, race, ethnicity, and national identity, which also define the larger parameters of social and cultural history. It is the first anthology to situation sport history within the broader fields of social history and cultural studies. 

Contributors are Melvin L. Adelman, William J. Baker, Pamela L. Cooper, Mark Dyreson, Gerald R. Gems, Elliott J. Gorn, Allen Guttmann, Stephen H. Hardy, Peter Levine, Donald J. Mrozek, Michael Oriard, S. W. Pope, Benjamin G. Rader, Steven A. Riess, Nancy L. Struna, and David K. Wiggins.

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cover of The Palms of New Guinea

The Palms of New Guinea

William J. Baker, Anders S. Barfod, Rodrigo Camara-Leret, John L. Dowe, John Dransfield, Charlie D. Heatubun, Peter Petoe, Jessica H. Turner, and Scott Zona

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2024

A comprehensive study of New Guinean palms.

From exquisite palmlets to graceful canopy giants, palms dominate the rainforests of New Guinea, one of the last tropical wilderness areas on the planet. New Guinea is the world’s largest tropical island and a globally significant biodiversity hotspot. Its extraordinary flora and remarkable 250 species of palm are vital for the people of New Guinea, who depend on them for their survival.

Palms of New Guinea is the first comprehensive account of these immensely important plants, covering their taxonomy, identification, distribution, habitat, conservation status, and much more. Alongside over 650 photographs and 250 detailed maps, botanical artist Lucy T. Smith has illustrated all species featured in Palms of New Guinea. Written by nine scientific experts, this is an essential companion for anyone studying or working in the region.
 
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