Editorial Review

Like many Christians, Philip Yancey has often felt kicked around, abused, anddamaged by the institutional church. And like many Christians, he has found solace inreading about and getting to know some extraordinary individual believers. He profiles13 of those believers in Read more

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Reviews (68)

Yancey keeps messing with us
Of course he almost always messes with us in a good way.Pointing out some of the blind spots in the thinking of many evangelicals Yancey takes the unique approach of coming at Christianity through the side door.Unlikely authors -- unexpected personalities -- just the kind of stuff that connects with those of us who are tired of the linear and the literal.
A great book when in Faith-Burnout!
This book was a refreshing way of looking at faith, that helped me carry on in the journey.It is a perfect read for someone who has been in the faith for a while and is no longer niaeve!

My favorite book in a long time!
Thanks Mr. Yancey.You contribute to my life through Christianity Today, and through your past books.This one particularly inspired me.Probably the best book I have read in some time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy    2. Audio - Inspiration / Philosophy    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Audiobooks    5. Christian biography    6. Christianity - Christian Life - General    7. Christianity - History - General    8. Faith    9. Religion    10. Spirituality - General    11. Religion / Christian Life   

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Subjects:  1. Audio - Business / Professional    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Business    5. Corporate & Business History - General    6. General    7. Investments & Securities - General    8. Non-Classifiable   

Editorial Review

Lou Gehrig started his professional baseball career at a time when players began to be seen as national celebrities. Though this suited charismatic men such as Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, Gehrig avoided the spotlight and preferred to speak with his bat. Best known for playing in 2,130 consecutive games as well as his courage in battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a disease that now bears his name), the Iron Horse that emerges from this book is surprisingly naïve and insecure. He would cry in the clubhouse after disappointing performances, was painfully shy around women (much to the amusement of some of his teammates), and particularly devoted to his German-immigrant mother all his life. Even after earning the league MVP award he still feared the Yankees would let him go. Against the advice of Ruth and others, he refused to negotiate aggressively and so earned less than he deserved for many seasons. Honest, humble, and notoriously frugal, his only vices were chewing gum and the occasional cigarette. And despite becoming one of the finest first basemen of all time, Jonathan Eig shows how Gehrig never seemed to conquer his self-doubt, only to manage it better. Read more

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Reviews (54)

A Gentlemanly Hero
Even though it's 70 years after Lou Gehrig ran the bases, Mr. Eig has crafted a masterpiece that brings this athlete to life before our eyes. We see his rise to stardom as a quiet hero, and we see his hearbreaking descent into the physical hell of ALS.Everyone knows how this book will end, but even so, the final act will leave you weeping.
I'm 14, so call me a kid if you want
This book was the best biography I have ever read. I absolutely hate the Yankees with all my heart, but this book makes you love the Yankees a little bit more. Eig gave a good balance of personal life and baseball life where he excelled in both. The only complaint I have is that the 2-3 chapters of ALS coverage was really boring. All the letters to read were a pain and I just wanted to get done with it, but don't be discouraged to read it because everything else is flawless.

Triple Crown Winner!
Having read a number of biographies about Lou Gehrig, I was looking forward to reading this one and I was not disappointed.Mr. Eig gives us insight into the childhood of Gehrig, along with the domineering role that his mother played in his life.As he begins his professional career, we are privy to the insecurity that he experienced, even in times of success.In addition, we see the conflicted Lou when he marries and it causes problems with his mother. Finally we watch as A.L.S. chokes the life out of a strong and courageous man.This in an awesome and insightful work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Autobiography/Biography    2. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis    3. Audiobooks    4. Baseball - History    5. Baseball players    6. Biography    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Patients    10. Sports - Baseball    11. Sports - General    12. United States    13. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

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Reviews (15)

Written for a 12 Year-Old
What a disappointment!It is only lacking cartoon illustrations to make it seem competely childish.But more disturbingly it is deceptively simplistic.Told through rose-colored glasses, leaving out what is convenient to ensure a "happy" ending.
Absorbing history that reads like a soap opera
As a lifelong and very active Catholic I was shocked to learn just how little I knew about the history of St. Peters in Rome.
A Mixed Bag
I've been waiting for a popular history dealing with the Renaissance, Reformation, Catholic Reformation, etc. And at first glance this book is it. It's an easy and absorbing read, and endlessly fascinating.
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Subjects:  1. History: World    2. Unabridged Audio - History    3. Religious Buildings    4. Christianity - History - Catholic    5. Architecture/Religious Buildings    6. Art/Subjects & Themes - Religious    7. Chronological Period/16th Century    8. Chronological Period/17th Century    9. Church & Ministry/Church Life/Church History    10. Church & Ministry/Church Life/Roman Catholicism    11. Cultural Region/Italy    12. Education K-12/Social Science/History    13. General Interest/Literature & the Arts/General    14. History / Renaissance    15. History/Europe - Italy    16. Religion/Christianity - Amish    17. Religious Orientation/Catholic    18. Religious Orientation/Christian    19. Unabridged Audio / History    20. Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano    21. Renaissance    22. History    23. Audiobooks    24. Vatican City   

Editorial Review

Colorado and its neighboring states battle thousands of wildfires every year, scrub and sagebrush blazes often ignited by lightning strikes in the dry, hot days of summer. A vast, intertwined firefighting infrastructure combining local resources with agencies like the Forest Service and the BLM, reacts to these flare-ups as if going to war--and in theory, the coordination and communication ensures that fires are fought in the most efficient and safe manner possible. But while most wildfires in Colorado end up costing just over $60,000 on average with no loss of life, the catastrophic South Canyon fire of 1994 burned for 10 days, at the ultimate cost of $4.5 million and the lives of 14 firefighters. OSHA would later describe the coordinated action flatly as a "management failure," and concurrent investigations would reveal a tangled web of jealous rivalries, bureaucratic bungling, and severe morale problems. (One of the early on-scene supervisors would later tell investigators, "Leadership in this state sucks.")Read more

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Reviews (37)

Chasing his father's ghost
This book could be expected.Norman McLean, John's father, wrote the Classic "Young Men and Fire".John used the Storm King fire to try to reach those same heights, and he failed.The information he presents is 95% factual.His use of fiction to fill in the gaps is unforgivable, especially when the subtitle is "The True Story of the South Canyon Fire".

Blowout!
It started with dry lightning storm starting 40 new fires in the Grand Junction District with 5000 lightning strikes on Storm King Mountain before the fire and a total of 9,000 strikes total.
Still Learning
Great reporting, decent literature although granted, few of us will ever match his father.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audio - Nonfiction    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Audiobooks    5. Colorado    6. Garfield County    7. History    8. Natural Disasters    9. Prevention and control    10. Trees & Forests - General    11. United States - State & Local - General    12. Wildfires    13. History / General   

Editorial Review

As some 9,000 people watched the Wallendas begin their high-wire act on July 6, 1944, a fire started on the sidewall of the big top at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The tent had been waterproofed with a mixture of 6,000 gallons of white gasoline and 18,000 pounds of paraffin; common practice for circuses at the time. In minutes, the entire tent was engulfed in flames. In the rush for the exits, people were trampled and burned--some beyond recognition. In the end, 167 were dead and 487 injured, of whom 140 required hospitalization. The city of Hartford, Connecticut, would never be the same. Stewart O'Nan brings his storytelling ability to the tragedy of Read more

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Reviews (60)

Moving Account
On the afternoon of July 6, 1944, a fire broke out during a performance of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in Hartford, Connecticut. The circus tent had been waterproofed with gasoline and paraffin and the fire spread quickly with 167 people (mostly women and children) ultimately dying and many others horribly burned. "The Circus fire" details the events leading up to the fire (although the worst, this was not the first fire to hit the circus), the fire itself and the ensuing panic, and the aftermath of the fire, up until 1999. There are accounts from victims of the fire, the firefighters, circus performers, and neighbors that helped out, as well as many pictures that show the horrible results of the fire. The book follows several survivors through their recovery and how they are doing years after the fire.
A Tribute to the Victims
The July 6, 1944 circus fire at Hartford CT is still considered one of the top twenty greatest disasters in the history of the United States (I saw the list in a news story printed around the time of Hurricane Katrina).Recounting the events could not have been easy, particularly when so much personal detail was included, but Onan did the impossible and pulled it off in remarkable fashion.
Gripping tale of narrative nonfiction
Although I just purchased this book recently and am only about halfway through it, I feel qualified to say that O'Nan has woven together a gripping tale of nonfiction with style and finesse. I hadn't ever heard of the fire prior to receiving this book, which I purchased on a lark, and it makes one wonder about the morality of today's circus and the ways in which animals are treated like cattle.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    3. Audiobooks    4. Circus    5. Connecticut    6. Fires    7. General    8. Hartford    9. Hartford Circus Fire, Hartford, Conn., 1944    10. History    11. Unabridged Audio - History    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. Biography & Autobiography / General   

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Reviews (43)

Lots of Philosophy/Little History
This is a very interesting book. It differs from similar books in this area (e.g., Meyers, Pagels) in that it is high on philosophy, weak on history, and includes line by line copies of the coptic text along with English translations along with commentary. As such it goes beyond Pagels and Meyers as a useful resource for people interested in primary sources, but it may not be as helpful to people looking for historical commentary.
Awesome, Pristine, Gender-Balanced Christianity, Yeshua & Magdalene Wisdom Co-Teachers
This book is so spiritually inspiring, so perfectly presented, that you feel a surge of recognition, like you always KNEW.Here is a religious "system" that blends original pure Christianity with Buddhist and Vedanta high and bright teachings. It is like a Theory of Everything for alternative Christians.Leloup writes as a holy scribe; it's amazing that we're reading a translation! Flawlessly rendered. Every verse comes open so vividly with his explanation and insight, so many aha! moments. It's a faith-changing book, not just life-changing.His explanation of that rascally last verse of the Gospel of Thomas is worth the purchase price of the book. That's the verse you recall, where Jesus explains he can make Magdalene "fully male", causing nay-sayers to claim alternative Christianity and gnosticism is sexist. But. The word for male really meant "human" -- so Yeshua was not being sexist, but saying the two of them joined together in wholeness become fully human. Leloup tells us just how we today can reach this fully human "anthropos" state. He reveals Yeshua & Magdalene's sacred union and alternative teachings in pristine simple words that jump out at you and say, You knew this!
The True First Gospel of the New Testament
Gentle, thought provoking and honest to a fault.It is sad that this Gospel was omitted from the Bible at the Council of Nicea.Had it been included it would be complete, rather than fragments of relics.Women would be able to play an equal role in society, and the Christian Church would have far fewer problems to have to face than it does today, for the Holy Bible itself would be more easily understood and the true thoughts of Jesus would be more easily understood.The world would be a better place if this book were included in the New Testament.It isn't though, but for anyone serious about World issues it is just the book to help put society (humanity) back on course.Those with open and searching minds will find this book breath-taking. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. Christianity - Mariology    3. Religion    4. Religious    5. Spirituality - General    6. Unabridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy   

Editorial Review

Like the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the civil rights movement has achieved mythical status in America--an epic tale of heroes and martyrs; of sacrifice, honor, and courage in the face of overwhelming odds; of ideals worth dying for in a time and place where death was an all-too-real possibility. In Read more

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Reviews (27)

An amazing work
David Halberstam has written so many great works, but THE CHILDREN may be his greatest achievement.From the outset, this book takes readers on a journey through the civil rights movement through the eyes of both the courageous young people who had decided that our society had to change and the adults who helped them to bring this needed change to America.The book captures readers from the beginning as Halberstam gives a very intimate look at the fear Diane Nash experienced as one of the leaders of Nashville's sit-in movement.The first chapter gives readers a window through which to see the conflicting forces that collided in the heart and mind of Ms. Nash as she contemplated the enormity of what she was doing: changing the south against the wishes of many who, if they had their way, would just as soon hang her as look at her.
Great Audio Book!
This takes you through the civil rights movement. It is very interesting and proves to be an inspiring historical journey. This is a great audio book. The reader was exceptional.

Fast Pace Read
David Halberstam's publication "The Children" is an exciting overview of the Civil Rights Movement from an enamored journalist through the eyes of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. (SNCC)The author focuses on the major players such as Diane Nash, James Bevel, Jim Lewis, Curtis Murphy, Bernard Lafayette and James Lawson, with heavy emphasis on the Nashville Sit-In Movement and Freedom Rides.The strength of his work is that it reads much more like a fast paced novel than an academic analysis.He does however at the same time provide plenty of background material and socio-economic, political and cultural variables within his work.Halberstam also revisits these former SNCC workers after the "high" of the movement and even much later in life.It's quite obvious the work of a journalist within the pages.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Afro-Americans    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Biography    5. Civil rights    6. Civil rights movements    7. Civil rights workers    8. History    9. United States    10. History / General   

Reviews (1)

A live recording by one of our great historians
Stephen Ambrose, one of the foremost authors on the D-Day subject, speaks to an audience of veterans at the Smithsonian. Mr. Ambrose has appeared in several films on war history, and is an accomplished speaker. In thisprogram, he concisely describes the reasoning behind the decisions thatgreatly effected the way in which WWII ended. Was Eisenhower correct inallowing the Russians to take Berlin? Why didn't we predict the Germancounter-attack at the Battle of the Bulge when we had their top secretradio code? These are the kinds of questions that S. Ambrose attempts toanswer in this fascinating tape. An important addition to collections ofhis WWII books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Fiction/Suspense Thriller    2. Audio Adult: Other    3. Europe - General    4. History    5. Military - World War II   

Editorial Review

Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: Read more

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Reviews (173)

Excellent History of 'God'
Karen Armstrong is certainly one of the finest writers on religious issues.While not herself a believer in 'God', she speaks from experience (she was a nun for several years in the Roman Catholic Church) and also great understanding and sympathy.
Actually...a history of western religion
While Karen Armstrong admittedly attempted a difficult objective, her errors small and not so small still deserve mention.
Ode to the Mighty One
"A History of God" is Karen Armstrong's opus (in my humble opinion), and is an admirable achievement, for it is both secular and theological, without being sanctimonious. I have taken the time to read several of her books and each is superlative in its own way, but most focus on historical time periods that are only part of the 4000 year saga that is revealed with such power in "A History of God."
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Inspirational/Philosophy    2. Audio - Inspiration / Philosophy    3. Audio Adult: Other    4. Biblical teaching    5. Comparative Religion    6. Comparative studies    7. God    8. History    9. History of doctrines    10. Inspirational - General    11. Religion / General   

Editorial Review

As grippingly as any novelist, preeminent World War II historian Stephen Ambrose tells the horrifying, hallucinatory saga of Easy Company, whose 147 members he calls the nonpareil combat paratroopers on earth circa 1941-45. Ambrose takes us along on Easy Company's trip from grueling basic training to Utah Beach on D-day, where a dozen of them turned German cannons into dynamited ruins resembling "half-peeled bananas," on to the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of part of the Dachau concentration camp, and a large party at Hitler's "Eagle's Nest," where they drank the madman's (surprisingly inferior) champagne. Of Ambrose's main sources, three soldiers became rich civilians; at least eight became teachers; one became Albert Speer's jailer; one prosecuted Bobby Kennedy's assassin; another became a mountain recluse; the despised, sadistic C.O.who first trained Easy Company (and to whose strictness many soldiers attributed their survival of the war) wound up a suicidal loner whose own sons skipped his funeral.Read more

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Reviews (388)

I don't know why people find it nessesary to mention the miniseries, this stands on its own!
I've seen the miniseries, I've read the book. The book is much more interesting. First, the direct quotes and sources comparing it to other books written about comradeship, or being a soldier in general are indespensible as a way to not only know what you are reading is the way it was (not a director's interpretation), but to gain more knowledge that was not supplied in the book itself. Second, there is more in the book than the show. Last, and most important, when concieving a picture about what it was like with Easy, it is more fun and entertaining (in my opinion) to first think of it the way your mind takes you. I do reccomend watching the show surely, but read the book first, it is fun to see how your perceptions match up to that of the show and its producers plus, if you know what and how everything happens, the book is easily ruined and your picture of what it was like in your mind is nullified.
wonderful look at a true band of brothers and how they came to be
With the exception of Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, which is fiction, I've never read a book on World War II before. And aside from my interest in Cold War/atomic culture, war isn't normally on my bookshelves. But after seeing a couple of the final episodes on repeat on the History Channel of "Band of Brothers," the miniseries based on this book, I gave it a go.
Another Flag Waver
I really can't add much to the reviews already written except to say that 'Band of Brothers' is a must read for WWII buffs or anyone interested in the brave acts that bring young men to perform totally without thought to themselves, but rather to their comrades.As we have come to expect from Stephen Ambrose, the book is well written, well researched, and will keep you interested from cover to cover.As I have said in some other of my reviews, "This one will make you want to go out and fly that American flag proudly." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - History    2. Airborne troops    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Campaigns    5. General    6. History    7. Military - United States    8. Military - World War II    9. Regimental histories    10. United States    11. Western    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / Military / World War II   

Editorial Review

No one gets the inside story like Bob Woodward, the reporter of the Watergate scandal who has made a career of investigating -- and writing about -- the inner workings of the highest levels of government. In Read more

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Reviews (10)

A Good Read for Anyone
If you want to read a book about politics, this is the book to read.Even if you are skeptical or apathetic towards American politics, I would still recommend this book to you-- it might make you more interested in the subject.Woodward takes us behind the scenes of the 1996 presidential elections, showing us the intricacies and complexities involved.He does a powerful job of keeping this potentially flat topic lively and engaging. The first time I read this was in 1998, and I am still raving about it.

A Good Read for Anyone
If you want to read a book about politics, this is the book to read.Even if you are skeptical or apathetic towards American politics, I would still recommend this book to you-- it might make you more interested in the subject.Woodward takes us behind the scenes of the 1996 presidential elections, showing us the intricacies and complexities involved.He does a powerful job of keeping this potentially flat topic lively and engaging. The first time I read this was in 1998, and I am still raving about it.

How Bob Dole won the 1996 primaries
Woodward carefully documents the early stages of the 1996 presidential election, covering mid-1994 to April 1996. Note that the book's coverage ends before the national party conventions. Woodward tries to give equal treatment to both parties, but Republicans clearly cooperated with him much more than Clinton's staff (who no doubt feel burned by Woodward's earlier expos� of Clinton, 'The Agenda').More than anything else, this is a character study of Bob Dole, who candidly shared his thoughts with the author throughout the period. We also learn a great deal about Powell, Forbes, and Dick Morris.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1996    2. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Audiobooks    5. Election    6. Elections    7. History & Theory    8. History & Theory - General    9. Political Process - Elections    10. Presidential candidates    11. Presidents    12. United States    13. Non-Classifiable   

Editorial Review

In his six-volume history of World War II,Winston Churchill deemed the year 1942 as "the hinge of fate," the year in which the German and Japanese armies began to be turned back.John Lukacs suggests that the last days of May 1940 were more important still in turning the tide of war in democracy's favor, for it was in those few days that Churchill convinced his cabinet that Britain should fight on, alone, if need be, against Adolf Hitler's regime. Even as a quarter of a million British troops were being evacuated from Dunkirk, Churchill struggled to reverse the British government's policy of appeasement. In this, he faced opposition from several quarters, including prominent figures within his own Conservative Party. Writing with evident admiration for Churchill--who, he points out, was not well liked, and who had been prime minister for only two weeks when war broke out--Lukacs gives his readers a fly-on-the-wall view of the heated conferences between such well-known participants as Harold Nicholson, Lord Halifax, Neville Chamberlain, and Alexander Cadogan.Read more

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Reviews (53)

Don't read this - it's boring
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. I went in with high expectations: I'd never read Lukacs, but my understanding was that his reputation was good. At a minimum, he's published a lot.Moreover, I liked the idea of an events-oriented narrative confined to a short, narrow time frame.What should have been high drama, however, was almost painful to finish. Plainly put, the book is boring.
A Compelling Story
This book is hard to put down. I have read it twice and will, no doubt, read it again. 5 star subject 2 star treatment
A fascinating period in history that begs for a page turning dramatic rendering is here so turgidly presented that it is difficult to stay awake while reading this. The facts are here but the writing is awful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. Military - World War II    4. Unabridged Audio - History   

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Reviews (5)

Fascinating collection!
I listened to the audio version of this book and found it wonderful. The stories are read by excellent actors. General Pickett's letters to his wife during the Gettysburg campaign were particularly moving. My attention was strained a bit by the length of the excerpts from Walt Whitman, but don't get me wrong, they were interesting.
Not Much Adrenaline Needed On This One
This review is going to be heavily shaded by the fact that the book turned out to be nothing like what the title, dust jacket and series name implied.My impressions of what I was going to get with the book was down and dirty hard core descriptions of fighting.Real meaty descriptions that would really provide me an insight to what it was like in the thick of the battle. What were the Calvary charges like, what were the conditions in the POW camps, what was the battle field medical care like, almost an Ambrose on the Civil War.If this book tried to document what I just described then the editor must be found and prevented from ever committing this kind of crime again. I will give the editor some credit and think that maybe the Marketing department got a little ahead of themselves in describing this book as the "Saving Private Ryan" of Civil War books. Sort of a mixed bag
I think this would have been a better anthology if the editor had spent more time finding sources. It doesn't really seem like he searched lesser-known documents; just about everything here is pretty well known. The quality ranges from excellent to somewhat pointless. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. History    3. Unabridged Audio - History    4. United States - Civil War    5. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    6. USA    7. War & defence operations   

Reviews (6)

A Stunning Epic Masterpiece
Randy Shilts?s third nonfiction novel chronicling the struggles and triumphs of the gay movement, culture, and lifestyle is perhaps the most in-depth of all his works. Exhaustively researched, and impeccably detailed, Conduct Unbecoming reads like a textbook (albeit a very interesting one) on how one of the most established institutions in the United States harassed and interrogated U.S. citizens, destroyed careers of literally thousands of men and women in uniform, and maliciously and ruthlessly discriminated against persons based upon their sexual orientation. This book flew off the shelves
I was overseas when this book came out, and the on-base bookstores could not keep enough on the shelves! Every "family" member would snap it up as soon as more were put out. An outstanding read...On a whole, the book IS factual. It just makes a better read is all. Courage Unbound
I bought this book because my Great Aunt is a retired Colonel in the US Army, and she is a Lesbian. She was interviewed for this book and is quoted in the book. Therefore, I wanted to have a copy of this book because I feel it holds a part of my family history.