History of Modern SC Maps State's Changing Cultural and Political Landscape

Two-time South Carolina Journalist of Year Jack Bass and his fellow award-winning historian W. Scott Poole have authored a new concise history of South Carolina with a strong emphasis on the social, economic and political transformations from the late twentieth century to the present day. The Palmetto State: The Making of Modern South Carolina (hardcover, $24.95) will be published on March 12 and will be available through local booksellers and directly from the publisher, the University of South Carolina Press (800-768-2500).

The Palmetto State chronicles the legacies of luminary figures like Strom Thurmond, Ernest F. Hollings, James F. Byrnes, Robert McNair, Matthew J. Perry Jr., I. DeQuincey Newman, Harvey Gantt, Modjeska Monieth Simkins and others in a briskly paced narrative as Bass and Poole survey the roots of the defining moments of recent decades. The impact of two world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights era and other major historical moments are all deftly explored. Throughout the volume, the authors discuss how tensions of race, religion and economics are always central to any major shift in our history.

An insightful reminder of our complex recent past and an inviting perspective on the promising moment in history on which we are now poised, The Palmetto State is a welcome addition to any South Carolina bookshelf and makes for ideal reading for newcomers and natives eager to learn more about their home and its heritage.

The Complete Idiot's Guides Celebrates 15 Years of How-to

Since 1993 millions of "idiots" have learned how to operate a PC, speak conversational Japanese, gamble like a pro, understand Islam, make homemade ice cream, install solar power, meditate, play the harmonica and have amazing sex. Those subjects, along with the 450 current titles, comprise The Complete Idiot's Guides line of books, now celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The Complete Idiot's Guides, published by Alpha Books, started as a series of easy-to-understand, authoritative computer guides – The Complete Idiot's Guide to MS-DOS and The Complete Idiot's Guide to PCs. With the success of these titles, the line quickly expanded to include lifestyle categories and today more than 450 titles are currently in print in more than 30 different categories.