George Washington Carver: In His Own Words [Paperback]

Gary Kremer (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

A black man praised by white America-George Washington Carver (1864-1943) was an anomaly in his own time.  Now available in paperback, this choice selection of Carver's writings reveals the human side of the famous black scientist, as well as the forces that shaped his creative genius.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"These documents are carefully edited and arranged in proper context with very helpful and perceptive editorial comments, offering the opportunity for readers to study Carver, the man, in his own words. . . . It is well done and will be of special interest to persons and libraries seeking authoritative material about black Americans."--Choice

"Kremer's excellent introduction and his detailed commentary between letters help put the correspondence into perspective. The result is a balanced look at Carver that retains the flavor of the scientist's story as told in his own words.' . . . The work adds to one's understanding of racial attitudes in the South while presenting an engaging portrait of this folk hero."-- Georgia Historical Quarterly

"Kremer's background and transitional comments, along with Carver's writings, succeed in bringing Carver to life; helping readers to encounter, empathize with, and appreciate this complex, often contradictory man--egotistical and insecure, empirical and mystical, demanding and self-sacrificing."-- Journal of Southern History

About the Author

Gary R. Kremer, a professor of history at Lincoln University from 1972 to 1988, now serves as Missouri's State Archivist and is a member of the history faculty at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri.  He is also the atuhor James Milton Turner and the Promise of America: The Public Life of a Post-Civil War Black Leader (University of Missouri Press).

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: University of Missouri (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826207855
• ISBN-13: 978-0826207852
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #912,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Disappointment, April 7, 2006

By 

Jack Diven (Las Cruces, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: George Washington Carver: In His Own Words (Paperback)

Having read other books on George Washington Carver's life I was very impressed with his faith in God, humility and refusal to accept promotion and monetary gain. Not to mention his incredible scientific contributions to all races. I bought this book thinking it would include a collections of his own writings (which it does) to get a more personal view of the man. Instead it seemed to be a book about George Washington Carver in the author's words. The letters are obviously edited and I found myself at variance with the author on his interpretations of them. Carvers human traits are magnified until he is often portrayed as a egomaniac who continually sought the praise of others and was unsure of his accomplishments. Tuskagee is even portrayed as a plantation! (Chapter 4 is entitled "The Tuskagee Plantation"). The other books I have read certainly did not hide his flaws (which all of us as humans share) but I came away with a desire to read more about a man who I came to admire and desire to emulate in many ways. His humility and sense of God's purpose in his life have been an inspiration to myself and my family. My opinion of Carver remains the same. This book will not remain in our library.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Biased authorship, August 7, 2010

By 

Sarah - See all my reviews

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This review is from: George Washington Carver: In His Own Words (Paperback)

This book is filled with an unhidden utter contempt for the subject (GW Carver). The writer is unable to conceal his disdain for the character, often characterizing him as an uncle tom, one who always "seeks the approval of white people", "a mystic" etc. The writer's so called "positives" about the author last about two sentences each, after which follow paragraphs upon paragraphs of what can only be characterized as a condensation of condescending memos about Carver. I definitely do not recommend this book. I am still looking for an objective book covering Carver's work and beliefs - it's a shame he never wrote an autobiography.

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to Carver, October 15, 2005

By 

Anson Cassel Mills (Lake Santeetlah, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: George Washington Carver: In His Own Words (Paperback)

A good introduction to Carver, who was a man of charm and impracticality, intensity and feminine tenderness, humility and immense ego, and who was simultaneously devoted to Christian orthodoxy and an ideosyncratic strain of nature mysticism. Kremer's introduction is nicely written and strikes a proper balance between hero-worship and debunking. Despite the black scientist's unusual combination of personality traits, his virtues and faults remained largely constant throughout his career, so some of Kremer's examples seem repetitious. That's no problem. In books like this one, you can skip and skim in good conscience.