Editorial Review

Who hasn't dreamed, on a mundane Monday or frowzy Friday, of chucking it all in and packing off to the south of France? Provençal cookbooks and guidebooks entice with provocatively fresh salads and azure skies, but is it really all Côtes-du-Rhône and fleur-de-lis?Author Peter Mayle answers that question with wit, warmth, and wicked candor in Read more

Reviews (117)

A Vacation for the Mind: A Year in Provence
This book has something for everyone.The anecdotes are charming, funny, and full of deliciously descriptive sentences.I read some passages aloud to whoever will listen.This is the 2nd book I've read by Peter Mayle. I also read "A Good Year" and am currently reading, "Toujours Provence!"Mayle's books are refreshing and delightful to read.

Delicious reading, creme brulee for your head!
I read this book as a follow up to "Almost French" which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted more but that author hadn't written anything else (yet?) so I looked to the back cover where there were some recommendations. I am so glad I did!
A Hilarious Vicarious Journey to France
Englishman Peter Mayle and his wife realize what most of us could only dream about--life in the French countryside of Provence.Food and the hearty French life are the themes that run through this book as the Mayles undertake renovating their 200 year old farmhouse.
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Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. Europe - France    3. France    4. Homes and haunts    5. Mayle, Peter    6. Provence    7. Provence (France)    8. Social life and customs    9. Travel    10. Travel - General    11. Modern fiction    12. Travel / Europe / France    13. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (11)

Thin and disappointing
Golly, but I feel like the odd man out here. Other reviewers have praised this book highly. To me it was thin in content and pretty uninformative. Maybe there's just not a lot to say about the historical Trojan War. Thus most of Strauss's narrative is a paraphrase of Homer. It is full of silly sidelines like "An unbandaged would might have been a common sight in the Greek camp." As my son would say: "Duh!"
Great book on historical speculation on the trojan war
Mr. Strauss does a great job bringing the bronze age art of war to life.He references many existing sources and some new ones, such as a newly discovered papyrus that show Greek soldiers of the era (The papyrus was stored away in a museum only to be recently discovered. . .makes you think what else is hidden away and lost to us on some dusty shelf). However, I have always been a little leery of a work of fiction being used to exemplify historical knowledge.However if it get people reading about history I can live with it. If this is what MR. Strauss was after then he has accomplished his task.I recommend this book to all historians, lovers of Homer's works and wargammers who would like to recreate the battles of the Iliad.

A Victorious Review
Because of my interest in classics, I was delighted to hear the interview with Barry Strauss on NPR when I was in the car several weeks ago. I ordered his new book right away and have just finished reading it.His scholarly and entertaining account is appealing because his informative descriptions of ancient times are clear, clever, and catchy.How I wish I could be a student in one of this fine professor's classes! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - Other    6. Military History - Ancient    7. Trojan War    8. History / Ancient / Greece   

Reviews (13)

Always learning something new
Even though I had believed that I knew at least a bit about all aspects of the American Revolution, this book caught me by surprise. I had never known anything about the British and their freedom offer to the slaves of American rebels. This exciting story spends a bit of time on the war itself and the rush to liberty of multitudes of blacks, but the bulk of it is taken up with what happened to the freed slaves when the war was over. There we see that the British government wasn't very much different from the American one, in that it professed its belief in liberty for all, but in practice the ex-slaves were considered second-class citizens, if even that. They were unceremoniuosly dumped into squalor in Nova Scotia, and only the efforts of a few brave Englishmen allowed many of them to be transported to Sierra Leone, there to found a free black society. Even there the people were subjected to being demeaned by the whites who controlled the area. This is a sad morality tale, and it shows up the hypocracy of both the American and British systems of government. This should be required reading for everyone.

A Little Known Story, Well Told
In the Broadway musical 1776 there is a very dramatic scene during the debate over the Declaration of Independence where the representatives from the northern and southern states are arguing over the South's 'peculiar institution.' It became clear that there would be no revolution if slavery had not been maintained.
A new facet of US history
Schama has done a service to us all through this book, which provides a look at how people in the 18th century interpreted the phrase "all men are created equal."The British by and large were far more willing to include blacks in that category than the people of the United States.Slaves who escaped and fought for the British were promised their freedom. Not every promise was kept, but many were. After the war, Schama takes us along with the freed slaves as they are shuttled to Nova Scotia and eventually Sierra Leone, as they demanded and fought for the freedom due to them by virtue of their service in the British army.The text is very well written and footnoted; the author understands that well-told history is told in (true) stories.The book's only miscue is Schama's subtle mocking of the religious fervor of the freed slaves and abolitionists. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1775-1783, Revolution    2. 18th century    3. Africa - West    4. African Americans    5. Blacks    6. England    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. General    9. History    10. History - General History    11. History - U.S.    12. History: American    13. Slavery    14. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    15. United States    16. United States - Revolutionary War    17. History / General   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Arab countries    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    8. Jewish Studies    9. Jews    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Persecutions    13. World War II    14. ASIA    15. Arabian peninsula    16. Ethnic studies    17. International relations    18. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (15)

A great resource
I remember that my grandma bought this book to give to my mom, so that she could share it with me.I developed pretty early, so my mom had already talked to me about my period before I read this book.I remember that she allowed me to read it myself and let me ask questions (I had lots).I also remember looking at the book with my cousin and laughing at the pictures of the developing male and female bodies.All in all, it's a great book that I'm glad is still in publication.I'd caution parents to give it to their children earlier than the age the book recommends.Both boys and girls are reaching puberty earlier these days and need to know about all of this.

Wonderful in 1975, and still is
My parents read both this book and "Where did I come from?" to me when they were first published in the mid-seventies (I was born in 1970).I don't remember feeling awkward or embarrassed about the books.I was at an age where everything was pre-sexual.I had no social hang-ups about my body parts.I remember very clearly starting elementary school about this time and I was able to understand what all the innuendos were about. Yes, sexual innuendos by many other children that couldn't have been older than nine.I remember other kids laughing at the girl who really believed that children came from the cabbage patch!I remember one of my friends crying and running to her mother when she caught our friend Kenny using the toilet while standing up.She though he had a horrible tumor.
I loved this book...
I think I'll make it a tradition in my family! My mom gave me this book when I was growing up, and I swear I read it cover to cover each day!! I loved the illustrations; I thought they eased the transition from Uncomfy-with-the-whole-puberty-thing to Yay!-I'm a Woman!! :P I'd recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adolescence    2. Children's 9-12 - Diet    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Family & Relationships    6. Health & Daily Living - Maturing    7. Health - Maturing    8. Juvenile literature    9. Puberty    10. Sexuality    11. Body & health    12. Family & Relationships / School Age    13. Kunze, Johannes   

Reviews (1)

At Last, a Tribute to an Art Dealer!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has produced yet another fine curatorial statement with their exhibition 'Cezanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde' and fortunately the accompanying catalogue is as bold and beautiful as the exhibition itself.The concept of discussing artists of international stature from the stance of the man who gave their careers the jumpstart needed is unique and valuable and is a tribute to the work that art dealers around the world perform in assisting artists in their career paths.
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Art    4. Art & Art Instruction    5. Art, French    6. Artists and patrons    7. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    8. Essays    9. European    10. Exhibitions    11. France    12. History    13. History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)    14. Art / General    15. Art funding, patronage & sponsorship    16. History of art & design styles: c 1800 to c 1900   

Editorial Review

One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Read more

Reviews (85)

Wisdom for Today
Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is really a manual for living.So much of what he teaches is very relevant for today."If you don't have a consistent goal in life, you can't live in a consistent way."
meditations
this is the finest translation of marcus aurelius's meditations that i have read. previous translations i have read were loaded with so many thee's and thou's that the reading was tedious and slow. i found my self scanning the pages instead of reading until i would come across an obvious jem. this made me oblivious to the hidden jems that make up this excellent work.this book gives the emperor's words a modern flair that doesn't lose the original flavor. i highly recommend it.

More of a reference
As part of the Dover Thrift Editions, this is a very affordable look into Stoic philosophy and insight into one of the emperors of the Roman Empire.
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Subjects:  1. Ethics    2. General    3. History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical    4. Life    5. Philosophy    6. Stoics    7. Ancient Greek & Roman philosophy    8. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (116)

YES!
For all who want to read a no holds barred critique of how the West simpers and grovels before the tower of political correctness read this. For those who say that is to harsh, I just watched today on the news that The London Star has just pulled a parody of itself because it might offend some Muslems. Never, never, never would a newspaper think of doing that for anyone else. As for the guy who trashed it after admitting he hadn't read it Huh? Nuf said. This should be required reading in every classroom in Europe and the U.S. It is time the truth is yelled from the rooftops as Fallaci does so well. One piece of advice, read it straight through in 1 sitting (it will take 4 or 5 hours) I wish I had. I think you will feel the full force that way. By the way, as it is wrong about the entire book so is Publisher's Weekly wrong about her translation. She explains it in the beginning ( they must have missed that part ) and it makes it all the more real, as well as reminding us that she is writing to Italians which I forgot occasionally.

The Rage and The Pride
I have been a fan of Oriana for the last 30 years. Her objectivity, fairness and compassion has impressed me when reporting on Vietnam, Mexico City, her interviews with History, her letter to a child never born.
Publishers Weekly has a distinct bias of its own
A forceful and emotional "sermon" - we see ourselves in the looking glass through the words of Fallaci.Laughably, Publishers Weekly declares (in a statement thoroughly fearful and utterly dripping of politically correctness - exactly what Fallaci chastizes us for) that the book "will not sit well with American readers".Such utter rubbish from Publishers Weekly... If you think we're not facing a war for the soul of this nation and you want to sit around the campfire and sing happy songs and hold hands, then please, by all means, have at it.
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Subjects:  1. 1995-2005    2. Biography    3. Fallaci, Oriana    4. History    5. History: World    6. Italy    7. Journalists    8. Middle East - General    9. Modern - 21st Century    10. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    11. Politics / Current Events    12. September 11 Terrorist Attacks    13. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    14. World politics    15. History / General    16. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Editorial Review

"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes Frank McCourt in Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Ethnic Cultures - General    6. Genealogy    7. General    8. Historical - General    9. Ireland    10. Irish Americans    11. Limerick (Limerick)    12. Biography & Autobiography / General    13. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: World    5. Military - World War II    6. Moscow, Battle of, Moscow, Russia, 1941-1942    7. Russia - History - 1917 To 1991    8. Soviet Union    9. World War II - Europe    10. History / Military / World War II   

Editorial Review

During the three years (1993-1996) Samantha Power spent covering the grisly events in Bosnia and Srebrenica, she became increasingly frustrated with how little the United States was willing to do to counteract the genocide occurring there. After much research, she discovered a pattern: "The United States had never in its history intervened to stop genocide and had in fact rarely even made a point of condemning it as it occurred," she writes in this impressive book. Debunking the notion that U.S. leaders were unaware of the horrors as they were occurring against Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Iraqi Kurds, Rwandan Tutsis, and Bosnians during the past century, Power discusses how much was known and when, and argues that much human suffering could have been alleviated through a greater effort by the U.S. She does not claim that the U.S. alone could have prevented such horrors, but does make a convincing case that even a modest effort would have had significant impact. Based on declassified information, private papers, and interviews with more than 300 American policymakers, Power makes it clear that a lack of political will was the most significant factor for this failure to intervene. Some courageous U.S. leaders did work to combat and call attention to ethnic cleansing as it occurred, but the vast majority of politicians and diplomats ignored the issue, as did the American public, leading Power to note that "no U.S. president has ever suffered politically for his indifference to its occurrence. It is thus no coincidence that genocide rages on." This powerful book is a call to make such indifference a thing of the past. Read more

Reviews (165)

This is an awesome book
In this book Samantha Power focuses on the history of genocide in the 20th Century and the American government's responses in a way that goes beyond simply recounting the horrific details. By juxtaposing these two elements the book lead me to view this ever-current topic - the penchant to kill ethnicities - in a way that left me asking questions I'd never thought to ask before.
A devastating chronicle of 'reasonable' villains and 'unreasonable heroes'
June, 1989. Samantha Power, just finished with her freshman year at Yale, is working at CBS in Atlanta, preparing sports footage for the news. It's a dream job; she loves sports. Then, on the "feed" --- live, unedited footage, broadcast only within the network --- she sees Chinese troops attack students in Tiananmen Square. It's the most shocking thing she's ever seen. And she thinks, "Oh, my God. What am I doing with my life?"
Long read, well worth it!!!!!!!!!
I purchased ''A problem from hell'' in March and took me almost a month to finsh. But it was really worth it! Samantha Power walks us through the major genocides that happened in the past century. From the Killing fields in Cambodia(1975-1979)to the Killing fields in Rwanda(1994),she writes about America's responce to genocides and truth be told, we are inveloped in national self-intrest.She also examines of how the word genocide came to be and the creation of the genocide convention. For anyone who is interrested in foreign policy and human rights (as I am) this book is a must read!!!
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Foreign relations    3. Genocide    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Holocaust    8. Political Discontent And Violence    9. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    10. Political History    11. U.S. History - 20th Century (General)    12. United States    13. United States - 20th Century    14. History / Holocaust   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Cholera    3. Diseases - General    4. England    5. Europe - Great Britain - General    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History: World    9. Life Sciences - Biology - Microbiology    10. London    11. Scientists - General    12. British & Irish history: c 1700 to c 1900    13. History / Great Britain    14. Infectious & contagious diseases    15. London, Greater London    16. Personal & public health    17. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (6)

Can pay for itself
We took a cruise that stopped at 5 islands listed in the book and found the information provided helpful to interpreting the cruise line's descriptions and deciding which land tours to take.We were able to by-pass several expensive tours yet see the major sites on our own.

Love the DK travel guides!
The DK books are my favorite travel guides and even though I've never been to Greece (yet!) I still like to page though the book. The pictures and diagrams are gorgeous and I like how the authors always bring the culture and history of the area into the discussion.

A beautiful, classy, picture journey!
This is a portable, soft cover, coffee-table book!It is beautifully crafted, with exquisite pictures, maps and diagrams of ancient buildings and modern towns. The book takes you on a cultural journey through Greece and its history.If you haven't visited Greece, it's a motivator.If you have, it brings back wonderful memories.This book is a broad sweep, you will need supplemental information, but it is unique in providing a visual overview of a beautiful and enchanting land! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aegean Islands (Greece and Turkey)    2. Europe - Greece    3. General    4. Guidebooks    5. Ionian Islands (Greece)    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Europe / Greece   

Editorial Review

Author Simon Weisenthal recalls his demoralizing life in a concentration camp and his envy of the dead Germans who have sunflowers marking their graves. At the time he assumed his grave would be a mass one, unmarked and forgotten. Then, one day, a dying Nazi soldier asks Weisenthal for forgiveness for his crimes against the Jews. What would you do? This important book and the provocative question it poses is birthing debates, symposiums, and college courses. The Dalai Lama, Harry Wu, Primo Levi, and others who have witnessed genocide and human tyranny answer Wiesenthal's ultimate question on forgiveness. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Sunflower among books---unforgettable
This book has touched me and remained with me since I read it my Senior year of high school.It facilitated numerous discussions on the issue of forgiveness--a complex issue that is actually quite simple.It also helped me to face some of my own issues and grudges so that I was finally able to begin understanding true forgiveness and hope.
Never forget the sunflower
Simon Wiesenthal's death prompted me to read "The Sunflower" for the first time. The book recounts Wiesenthal's haunting encounter with a dying SS soldier. The author was a concentration camp prisoner at the time. The tormented soldier desperately implored absolution for the atrocities he committed. The book passionately explores guilt, penitence, and forgiveness as Wiesenthal invited and printed the commentary from others about what they would have done if they had been in his place.
One who did not forget
I am writing this review the day after Shimon Wiesenthal died. He was ninety- six years old. Thousands of words have been written about him and his life- task. Certainly one of the major contributions he made was to make people aware of the enormity of the crime which was the Holocaust. After the war many wished to forget, but he out of a strong sense of duty to those who had died, to those who had been murdered and suffered so much , made it his business to make the world remember. And he too made his business to bring to justice those who committed the crime. And as he said many times he did this not only for the victims, but for the future generations of mankind so that such an evil would never come again not only to Jews but to all of humanity.
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Subjects:  1. Church And Society    2. Concentration camps    3. Ethics    4. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    5. Genocide    6. History    7. Holocaust    8. Jewish Holocaust    9. Personal narratives, Jewish    10. Philosophy    11. Religion    12. Sonnenblume    13. Wiesenthal, Simon    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. Europe    16. Judaism    17. Practical & applied ethics    18. Religion / General    19. The Holocaust    20. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (65)

Unchristian
Dalrymple's 1994 reenactment of the 6th century Christian spiritual journey of John Moschos and Sophronios is fascinating, and its author a compelling writer. There, the value of this book ends.
A book transcending itself
A trip through the Middle-East is most of all getting to know the Muslim world. The part of its' history from Byzantine times, meaning the presence and history of Christian settlements,is easily forgotten or at least figures in the background only. After having read this book the Middle-East will never be the same to me again. With the exception of the Armenian genocide,I was hardly aware of all tragedies which happened but most of all: which are today still happeningto the very old Christian communities of these countries. Not only are they in permanent danger of being killed, often with no punishment of the perpetrators from the authorities, and have they already been driven out of places where they lived since a 1500 years, also their ancient buildings, art, manuscripts, possessions of huge historic meaning, are being destroyed. As these communities and their material heritage represent much of the roots of Western civilization, this loss is a huge loss for the history of mankind. What's going on is a complete annihilation of the wonderful mosaic of different civilizations this world once produced. As since many years but now more than ever the Middle-East is the focus of world politics,"From the Holy Mountain" should be read by a much wider group of people than lovers of good travelogues or lovers of these countries only. A most important and readable study, implicating a plea for tolerance and respect, it should be a must-read for all politicians in the world.
Zeal For Ecclesiastical Arcana
Yes! My title nabbed from the Amazon reviewer. Dalrymple's journey through the middle east, retraces the Byzantine traveller-monlk, John Moschos, author of, The Spiritual Meadow'. In the late C6th, accompanied by his pupil, he set to gather the wisdom of the desert fathers from Mt Athos, to Kurdisatan, then south through Syria, the Lebanon, Palestine, and on up the Nile. Dalrymple's trip in the early 90s was frought with tensions which today would cause an angel trepidation. The book was a revelation to me, filling in considerable gaps about the foundation and correlations of so many parties in the fermenting region. Muslim fundamentlists provide stiff opposition to Dalrymple's historical and current enquiries. But they are not unique in this. His evocation of place is crisply poetic and touched with memorable detail. His feel for people is very sympathetic. A work justly applauded. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Ancient - Rome    3. History - General History    4. Middle East - General    5. Religion    6. Travel   

Reviews (28)

Sets the record straight
Everyone knows this event was controversial.It is the tasting that allowed premium U.S. wineries to begin the meteoric rise in quality (and price) that we see today.Arguably, it is what launched the globe's infatuation with the "New World Style".
Great story of an event that changed the world of wine
This is the story of the wine tasting event that put California and Napa Valley on the elite winemaking map.For those who don't know, in 1976 a British wine merchant stage a blind tasting of elite French wines against California wines.The judges were all French and expected to judge in favor of the French wines.But, the California wines scored much better and suddenly French dominance of winemaking was being questioned everywhere.George Taber was the only journalist at the event and wrote a small article for Time magazine.This is his story of what happened that day and the impact it had on the world wine industry.
Excellent read for winos
Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Business/Economics    4. California    5. Cooking    6. Cooking / Wine    7. France    8. History    9. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    10. Paris    11. Wine And Wine-Making    12. Wine industry    13. Wine tasting    14. Cooking / General   

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Architecture    4. Catalogs    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. France    7. Furniture    8. History    9. Interior Design - General    10. Interior decoration    11. Interior design   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Details    4. Great Britain    5. History - General    6. History Of Architecture    7. Interior Design - Style Books    8. Interior architecture    9. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    10. Reference    11. Architecture - Details    12. Architecture / Historic Preservation   

Reviews (20)

A BRILLIANT BIOGRAPHY - WELL DONE!
This is a brilliantly written biography of one of the most fascinating characters in history.Like most of Mnchester's work (I must admit to being a big fan), this is a very readable biography, well researched and holds the reader's interest from page to page.We see so much of Churchhill in his role as a WWII leader that we tend to forget there was a young man, living, learning and growing before the back and white films we see today.It is good to be reminded of this from time to time.It is also, for those interested, to learn how a world leader of Churchill's calibre came into being, how he developed and why he was the way he was.This work gives us great insight to those questions.Cannot recommend this work highly enough.

Insight Into A Great Man

Tale of a Giant Lives Up to Its Subject
Although William Manchester didn't live long enough to complete his biography of Winston Churchill, this first book of the proposed triology begins with Dunkirk and shows Churchill at his most magnificent before switching to his early years.Manchester's prose--eloquent, clear, moving, and witty--is a fitting vehicle for the story of a master of the English language, and the story itself is filled with amazing adventures and memorable anecdotes. This book and its sequel are the best of all the Churchill biographies. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1874-1965    2. 20th century    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Churchill, Winston,    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. Foreign relations    9. Great Britain    10. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    11. Political    12. Politics and government    13. Sir,    14. Biography & Autobiography / Political    15. Biography: general    16. British & Irish history: from c 1900 -    17. Churchill, Winston    18. United Kingdom, Great Britain