Reviews (5)

A Fabulous Historical Page Turner!
I am having a hard time putting down Ian Toll's "Six Frigates" to write a female's point of view...this is truly a page turner, an enlightening and very refreshing review of our early naval history which reads like a novel, pulling one into the action and times on each page - even if you are not a naval/history buff.I await with great impatience Mr. Toll's next venture.

A Much-Needed History
Ever since reading Patrick O'Brian's depiction of the battle between the USS Constitution and the HMS Java in "The Fortune of War," I've wanted to learn more about the United States's own naval history from that period.Surprisingly, though, I was unable to find many published works on the subject.Finally, Toll's "Six Frigates" has arrived, and it's exactly the sort of book I was looking for.
Don't read this book at sea!
I read "Six Frigates" sailing south down the coast of Australia from Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday group.
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Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. 19th century    3. Frigates    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Military    7. Military - Naval    8. Military - United States    9. Naval operations    10. Tripolitan War, 1801-1805    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. History / Military / United States    14. Maritime history    15. Naval forces & warfare    16. USA   

Reviews (32)

We Want More!
In his adroitly served "Enough", Juan Williams meticulously defends the honor and polishes the tarnished star of Sir William Cosby.While retorting to the haters of individual responsibility, Mr. Williams offers real solutions (not just talk), to the plague that has infected multitudes of African Americans, who live on both sides of the tracks!His intricate weaving of history, politics, and culture qualifies his work as required reading for all with any trace of African ancestry. As a matter of fact, it would be good reading for anyone with any dealings with African Americans, which leaves out no one.

I really really wanted to write a good review...
I first heard of this book on a radio show and was very impressed with Williams' take on black leadership in America.I was shocked to hear these words coming from Juan Williams, who is the token liberal (whoever thought that "token" and "liberal" would ever go together?) on FOX News.I began reading the book thinking that I would be as impressed with the ideas expressed by Williams as much as I was will Bill Cosby's 2004 speech.I was disappointed for two major reasons:
Only Half the Job is Done
Juan Williams gets an "A" for effort, but this book does not go far enough. It is part of the dishonest black circular firing squad started by Cosby, where blame is readily meted out when the cause is black men, but the punches are carefully pulled when the cause seems attributable elsewhere, perhaps, god forbid, even to irresponsible black women.
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Subjects:  1. 1975-    2. African American leadership    3. African Americans    4. Black American Sociology    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Leadership    8. Minority Studies - Race Relations    9. Political Process - Leadership    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics and government    12. Social Science    13. Social conditions    14. Sociology    15. United States - 20th Century    16. Current Events / General   

Reviews (1)

whathappenedtomaps?
This American History book is a very good, but not excellentcoverage of the History of the United States. The book istypical entry level college material. Historical information is either very interesting with good detail to boring and vague.Photographs, portraits, paintings, charts, and illustrations are abundant and beautiful helping to keep interest level moving.However, the book rapidly sheds its allure and interest. That is because it fails to deliver on providing enough, interesting and neccessary political and war detail maps associated with important major historical events.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: American    5. Textbooks    6. United States    7. United States - General    8. American history    9. History / General    10. USA   

Reviews (7)

BUY THIS BOOK!! It might save your life.
This is a slightly edited copy of mail I sent to Andy Borowitz. I seriously needed and loved this book. Please take a chance and buy it. As I said, above, it might save your life. Or at least your mental health!
It's not really a play ...
but it is a tragicomedy. The manipulation and betrayal of American voters may not seem hilarious, but Borowitz shows us humor galore there.
Sharp Satire Shocker!
Andy Borowitz is a genius of political satire! I ordered "The Republican Playbook" and Frank Rich's "The Greatest Story Ever Sold" at the same time. One is fiction, one is non-fiction. One makes me laugh, one makes me cry.
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Subjects:  1. American Satire And Humor    2. American wit and humor    3. Form - Parodies    4. Humor    5. Political Process - Political Parties    6. Political satire, American    7. Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )    8. Topic - Political    9. United States - 21st Century    10. Humor / Parodies   

Editorial Review

After September 11th, 2001, the Ground Zero site in New York City was classified as a crime scene and only those directly involved in the recovery efforts were allowed inside. The press was also prohibited from the site, but with the help of the Museum of the City of New York and sympathetic city officials, award-winning photographer Joel Meyerowitz managed to obtain unlimited access. By ingenuity and sheer determination, he was the only photographer granted unimpeded right of entry into Ground Zero. Read more

Reviews (7)

Shocking with a presentation that brings a fresh unseen angle
The images of September 11th are ones that are familiar to anybody in the western world and beyond. The death tolls as well as the political and sociological ramifications of these events on the following years and years to come have also been the subject of much discussion. However the glory of Joel Meyerowitz's photographic collection is that it ignores all the larger political manoeuvering and focuses on the minutia.
A Fitting Memorial on the Fifth Anniversary of September 11:
We still struggle with knowing how to think about the events of 9/11/2001 - and with how to depict them in the popular media. The reactions to the films "World Trade Center" and "Flight 93" have been all over the map. For some, it seems too soon to reopen the raw wounds that the tragedies of that day inflicted on our national psyche. For others, remembering the events and trying to make sense of them is part of the healing from those wounds.
Astonishing
I recently purchased this book from Amazon.It was worth the $$$ to add this book to my 9/11 book collection.The photos are stunning.Joel did an excellent job with his project.This book is a must-have book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. History    3. Individual Photographer    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./Mid-Atlantic    8. 21st century    9. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    10. Local history    11. New York    12. Photographic reportage    13. Photography / History   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (120)

Too much dialogue for an enjoyable history
This book is the story of the escape and capture of John Wilkes Booth.But, at its heart it is really the story of John Wilkes Booth and the man who accompanied him on his escape, David Herold.I really wanted to like this history, and I understand they are going to make a movie based on the author's work.I found it a bit too chatty, so much so, that by the end of it I wanted hang John Wilkes Booth.And that is the problem with this book.While it does a good job of telling how the Federal bureaucracy and the military fumbled Booth's capture, it focuses too little on that aspect.We get a lot of dialogue between Booth and those who help him make his escape, but this reader would have liked to know more about those who help Booth.Things like how the relatives of Dr. Samuel Mudd, obviously a racist and Confederate, got his life historically rehabilitated in the 20th century.After a while it just drags on.This is my first reading of anything about John Wilkes Booth and I hope there are better works out there.

Good read and hard to put down

Great read
This book is really a great read. The action flows petty much nonstop, from page one. Swanson manages to put a lot of facts in front of you, yet never bores you. I learned a lot from this book- buy it, you won't be displeased! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assassination    2. Case studies    3. Criminal Investigation    4. Criminology    5. Fugitives from justice    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History - U.S.    9. History: American    10. Investigation    11. United States    12. United States - 19th Century    13. United States - Civil War    14. History / General   

Reviews (7)

Excellent survey of western history
Civilization in The West is a superb text.Written by an outstanding group of historians the book is highly readable and contains a wealth of information.The suggestions for additional reading at the end of each chapter are invaluable and list the key texts for any time period.Finally, the colorful illustrations and photographs brilliantly compliment the text.This book is a definite buy for anyone interested in a general guide to western civilization.

Definitely a college text!
I enjoyed this text during my history class very much because it was so in depth. The hundreds of famous paintings alone make this book worthwhile, but it reads very much like a college text. Don't get me wrong -- I came to love history through taking this class, and the book was a large part of that. You must have a high level of literacy and some previous knowledge of history to read this book very easily. NO DETAILS ARE LEFT OUT!!! The book is fabulous and I would recommend it to any level anyways.

Good textbook, not nearly as bad as some i have had to read
The book had lots of info and was easy to understand. It covered all of the most important aspects of western civilizations. Anyone who complains that it was hard to read is an ... I would consider myself smart but i am by no means a rocket scientist and i found this book easy to read and enjoyable. It provided lots of information about certain interesting aspects of different civilizations cultures that would appeal to anyone who whould sign up for a history course. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. Civilization, Western    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Textbooks    7. World - General    8. History / General    9. Other Geographical Groupings, Oceans & Seas    10. World history   

Reviews (14)

When's the next book?
This is material I normally would only be half interested in, but I was completely engaged and couldn't put the book down.

Old rememberances
I always liked those comics that took place around the turn of the century or even earlier, and inevitably always ended up showing machines like the one in this book. Wacky guns, ungodly huge everything; completely unresonable in the real world, especially thirty years before their supposed invention, but fantastic on the page. Now I have a book full of these and a stack of comics that I'm suddenly interested in again. Zack might be a regular 'ol crazy fiction writer, but he sure supplied some great material to the artist types out there.

Zack Book Good!
Zack Parsons has done a great job with this book.As a mechanical engineer, I've always been fascinated with WWII era "wonder weapons" and have read a number of books on the subject.Of all of those books, this on is perhaps the only one I would recommend to someone who had only a passing interest in the subject.Zack keeps it light and entertaining throughout - this isn't just good WWII geekery, it's good reading, too.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. Military Science (Specific Aspects)    6. World War II - Europe    7. Europe    8. Humor / General    9. Inventions & inventors    10. Second World War, 1939-1945    11. Warfare & Defence   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (252)

One of the best you will ever read
This is an easy to read book, which managed to make profound points about life, pain, and fate.I enjoyed reading the first part of the book and learning about what it was like to be in such a hellish place (a concentration camp), and yet still being able to be positive about life.What more can I say than its an excellent book?

I learned: All the Auschwitz survivors, including the author, had something significant yet to do with their lives!
MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING
fascinating!
this is simply a must read for those interested in the human experience.Some of the positions concluded in this book may not be the only way to think on the issues involved, but still, this book is a great psychological workout with deep insights. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Austria    2. Biography    3. General    4. Holocaust    5. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    6. Personal narratives    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychologists    9. Psychology    10. Psychology of Religion    11. Philosophy    12. Philosophy / General    13. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory   

Reviews (12)

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History
Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.
A hard book to read.
World War II seems such a long time ago for so many of us. Most Americans today weren't yet born when it took place. For this reason, I believe everyone old enough to comprehend its stories should read this book. James Bradley and Ron Powers have written a heart-pounding record of the thirty-five bloody days it took to wrest Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island) from the Japanese. The photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi (1/400th of a second's space in time) is recognized around the world. The men who raised it: John "Doc" Bradley (the author's father);Harlon Block; Rene Gagnon; Ira Hayes; Franklin Sousley; and Mike Strank became instant heroes (though Block, Sousley and Strank died not long after). Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon lived to tell the tale, though both Hayes and Gagnon would die with the pain of their experiences on Iwo Jima seared into their psyches to the point they could not live with it successfully.
A full 5 stars !!
It is kind of funny how I came up with this book. I was looking to buy some books on WWII and after deciding on 2 books, I was short 25 cents to recieve the free shipping. So, I looked for another book that was cheep in price and picked this one. Out of the three books I purchased, Flags Of Our Fathers was the first one I read thinking I will get through this before I get to the good ones. Boy was I wrong. This book was just so good! I could not put it down! I would find myself up and still reading at 1am in the morning. I would strongly reccomend this book to anyone! Now I am going to purchase the newest version (bigger with nice cover) to have as a keepsake. Take my word for it, buy the book and you will not regret it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945    5. Military    6. Military - United States    7. Military - World War II    8. Photographs    9. Photography    10. Pictorial works    11. World War II - East Asia    12. World War, 1939-1945    13. History / Military / World War II   

Reviews (13)

Wow!
I had heard of Bowerman from the Nike brand of shoes I've worn and from the Pre movie "Without Limits".I had no idea what an amazingly big life Dave Bowerman had.The major events in his family's and his own history make for a good read.Kenny Moore is an able writer and you can tell he's spent time with the familly and friends to come up with this history of the father of the modern day running shoe.But he shows him to be more than a shoemaker.His experiences during WWII, the various Olympics (including Munich), founding and running BRS/Nike, and his battles against the Bhagwan (!) were a surprise that filled out my knowledge of the man and the Men of Oregon.Worth reading esp. if you love anything about running and track and field competition.

Great read!
Kenny Moore writes as only Kenny Moore can in this wonderful account of Bill Bowerman and the history of running at Oregon. Great book!Thanks Kenny!

Comprehensive Portrait of a Coaching Legend
Well-written and researched, this biography paints virtually every facet of Bill Bowerman's life and character across a canvas as broad as the Western skyline.From Bill's adventurous ancestors' settlement in Oregon, to his fatherless upbringing, to his high school sports and military successes, to his coaching, and finally to his entrepreneurial undertakings as a Nike founder, the narrative progresses in a logical, well-organized fashion.Even knowing that Kenny Moore, as one of Bill's unwavering supporters over the years, must have skewed this character study a bit toward the positive, I turned the last page convinced that Bill Bowerman was a multi-talented man of high principle and inquisitive Promethean temperament, who left the sport much better than he found it.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Bowerman, William J    4. Business    5. Business History    6. Corporate & Business History - General    7. Running    8. Running & Jogging    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Track and field    13. Track and field coaches    14. United States    15. University of Oregon    16. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging   

Reviews (10)

JIm Sosnicky
I recently had the chance to hear one of the contributors to this anthology read his stories at an event.Jim Sosnicky was born in 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland.He grew up in Virginia, California, and Colorado.Upon graduation from West Point in 1993, Jim Served as a tank platoon leader in the 1st Infantry Division. His stories are beautiful creations of insight,warmth and brutal honesty.Pick this book up if only for his stories.

An Author's Opinion
Although a biased author, having met, worked with the editor, Andrew Carroll (who accepted no compensation for his efforts), and after having met the Director and others from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as with some of the accomplished authors who assisted in the project, and with fellow military and civilian authors, I can unequivically say this is a work of passion, not profit (all proceeds will go to programs for military families).If you are looking for a reason to buy this book, that should be enough, but the stories herein are a true taste of all aspects of war, from the beginnings, to the battles to the loneliness to the humor to the heartbreak to the comfort of coming home alive.It is a "you are there" book unequalled in it's raw courage and uncensored intimate approach to storytelling, which includes for the first time in this type of book stories from loved ones of those who fight.We don't tell our stories to just anyone.We don't share our emotional privacy freely.But here, for some reason, perhaps simply the catharsis of writing about our experiences, we have shared ourselves for public consumption.These are important stories for every American to read.It presents for the first time with an all volunteer Army in a major war, what we go through.We are you, and you are us.We fight and die freely for us all, and we want you to understand we are just like you in many ways, yet, for reasons as diverse as our personalities, we have chosen to participate directly in defending our nation.Know us; love us or hate us for our choices, but know us who would be your champions.Although I have only read a half dozen of the stories, as they are raw and perhaps too soon drag up dangerous memories, I have also attended a reading of some of the stories in Manhattan with the dramatic expertise of Stephen Lang, Joan Allen, and Matthew Modine, bringing to life the poetry, grace, humor and poigniancy between the covers of this amazing piece of literature.Don't miss it.Share it freely.Read it again and again.Ask questions.Seek true answers, and get to know your soldier/citizens.
Bringing us closer to the experience of the troops
I want to thank Amazon for the opportunity to share my thoughts after finishing this book at 4 am this morning. I have been reading 5-10 entries in this book each night for the last week. I purchased it in an effort to draw closer to and to better understand the experience of my youngest brother, SGT Jason Boesen, Army combat medic currently deployed to Iraq until July 2007, and my brother-in-law, Major Chris Hanna, recently returned from his deployment to Iraq in May 2006. During the course of reading this book, I laughed, I cried, I clenched my fingers around the pages at intervals, afraid to turn the pages for fear of what I might read next. I was enveloped in waves of pride, fear, dismay, grief, love, longing, frustration, and at times, guilt.
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Subjects:  1. Afghan War, 2001-    2. Families of military personnel    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Iraq War, 2003-    6. Middle East - General    7. Military    8. Military - Iraq War    9. Military - United States    10. Military - Veterans    11. Military History - 1990-    12. Military Personal Narratives    13. Personal narratives, American    14. United States    15. History / Military / United States   

Reviews (12)

Must-have resource on PMCs for the casual reader, the academic, and the policy wonk
Licensed to Kill is Robert Young Pelton's broad survey of the modern world of mercenaries. Strike that, of contractors. Mercenaries, after all, as Doug Brooks of IPOA (International Peace Operations Association) said in the movie Shadow Company: anyone convicted as being a mercenary should be shot along with his lawyer (Doug, pardon my paraphrasing). Regardless, Pelton's subtitle captures what these guys are: hired guns. Or as one of the contractors in the book put it: "guns with legs".
Excellent overview
This is the kind of book you read cover to cover and want more. Always running the fine line between fly-on-the-wall and sarcastic-historian RYP's latest post-fac