Boy Scouts of America: A Centennial History [ハードカバー]

This is the 100th Anniversary history book on the BSA.

This is the reasonably priced version of the book they offered for $300. This one doesn't have the DVD or 'extra stuff'. Sadly, there are a few issues with the book.

There's no index!!!

Also, in reading the text, I found several mistakes:

* the story of Boyce being lost in the fog of London is repeated (twice). The problem is that we now know there was no fog when he was there. But atleast the author didn't claim he met B-P as the Scout Association office, and gave better info on when these events occured.

* the author claimed that Seton was the first and only Chief Scout of the BSA. Sorry, incorrect. Both James West and his successor were given that title after they retired as CSE.

* Some of the smaller programs of the BSA were given only a cursory look. Rovers are mentioned briefly. Air Scouts, even less. Varsity Scouts are mentioned, but the work that went into establishing them was not delved into. I found that disappointing, considering some of the pictures of Varsity Scouts was from their experiemental phase when they wore special polo shirts and not BSA uniforms. Sea Scouts were mentioned, but the author makes it seem like Arthur Carey established Sea Scouts and ignored the more significant contributions of James Wilder and especially Thomas Keane who set down the Sea Scout program as we know it today.

* I saw several errors with the notations about pictures and other items.

* the bibliography is disappointing. While I was pleased that the author did consult non-BSA works, I was diappointed by the absence of several books. He didn't check out the recent bios of West and Boyce. He only consulted Boys' Life and Scouting magazines since the 1980s on (I would have reviewed, if cursory, all of them where I the author).

To me, this prevents me from giving this more then 4 stars.

The history of scouting is intriguing. It connects with much of what has happened in the 20th century. This book does a great job covering the great breadth of scouting's story.

Its chief failing is that the author writes in a tepid, uninspiring prose style. He's reciting history, and not doing much engaging storytelling. The book should've been written with verve and romance---it's an exciting story.

Boy Scouts of America A Centennial History
by Chuck Wills
Pp 283
Photos
Publisher DK
Price $[...]

Boy Scouts of America A Centennial History presents the history of Scouting in a clear and concise manner. For those familiar with Scouting , Lord Baden Powell is the founder of scouting in England. The story of an American who was in England and escorted across the street by a Boy Scout is well known. The work that was involved in bringing the Scouting movement to the United States was quite a challenge. The book tells of other youth organizations that competed for boys in the same age group. I was surprised at the variety and quantity of them which were late merged by the Boy Scouts of America. I learned that the original highest rank in Scouting was the Wolf Badge. It was decided to change that name to something more American and what could be more American than the eagle. The Scout Law in America had three additional words added to it and they were brave, clean, and reverent.
I often wondered why world famous Norman Rockwell painted so many pictures for the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America gave him his first professional painting job. Rockwell was for ever grateful to the Boy Scouts of America and would do many painting for the scouts for free.
One of the premier Scouting experiences is a trip to the Philmont Scout Camp . This hiking adventure is located in New Mexico and covers over 127,000 acres. There are additional bases in other states in, the book talks about Sea Base in Florida which teaches scuba diving, and in Northern Tier, Montana.
What I found interesting is how scouting has changed in some minor ways choice of uniforms, but has always stayed with its roots. Scouting is about teaching young boys outdoor camping skills and life skills.
I enjoyed the stories on the Pine Wood Derby. The goal of the derby is to take a small block of wood and add four wheels and race it. Usually, it is the father that helps his son cutting out the wood and giving advice. It is truly a father and son project. It is hard to imagine that if you type in "Pine Wood Derby" in Google almost 600,000 hits come up. This simple block of wood is one of the most remembered events in a young Cub Scout's life.
Historically Boy Scouts was just one component of the program. It was decided to create the Cub Scout program younger which is for boys from the first to fifth grade. Scouts have two programs the Explorer and the Ventures and are opened for boys and girls.
Scouting has been around 100 years and there is plenty of reason to believe it will be there in another 100. Boy Scouts of America A Centennial history makes a fine edition addition to a scouting family libary.
I am somewhat biased toward the Boy Scouts .as I am an Eagle Scout, past Cubmaster, and currently an assistant Scout Master in Troop 36, Oradell New Jersey. Next year troop 36 will be celebrating our centennial in Scouting. The motto of the Boy Scouts is, "Be Prepared", which served me well in my life as well as my tour in Iraq.
MAJ (ret) Eric Shuler NJARNG
OIF 2004-2005