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The Navy's Finest Hour
This was a wonderful book, shedding much light on the much maligned and neglected Tin Can Navy, these men past and present do much, more with so much less and all are a tribute to the resourcefulness of the Sailor, period. So much useful history that would pass untold if it were not for this book and others like it. The story was recalled in a very fond, but firm and affable presentation. I really enjoyed this book, and as a retired Tin Can Sailor, I can relate to much in this book. Honorable men commiting honorable deeds, for self, for shipmate and for country. I thank each of these men that served for thier history and sacrifice.

A Story of Bravery for the Ages
This is undoubtedly one of the finest books I have ever read on warfare in my 45 years of reading books about war.
Very good, well done
This is a very good and compelling naval battle tale that really exposes the heroism of the men of the American Navy during WWII. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Leyte Gulf (Philippines), Batt    4. Leyte Gulf (Philippines), Battle of, 1944    5. Leyte Gulf, Battle of, Philipp    6. Leyte Gulf, Battle of, Philippines, 1944    7. Military    8. Military - Naval    9. Military - United States    10. Military - World War II    11. Military History - World War II    12. Naval Operations    13. Naval operations, American    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. History / Military / World War II   

Editorial Review

Bob Woodward called his biography of Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan Read more

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Tries to make monetary policy interesting
I have always been interested in the secretive world of the Federal Reserve. The goal of the work is to provide an inside look on how it really operates. Despite its importance, writing on the Fed and its long time chairman Alan Greenspan is difficult because the topic is very dry and boring. The author does all he can to make it interesting, but after awhile all of the stories of rate hike and cuts all sound the same.
How to feel your way to the correct interest rate
Woodward will give you a feel for how Greenspan feels (this feeling is developed from massive amounts of economic dated and dicussions with other experts) his way along to a decision on interest rates. There is no clear-cut method for getting the interest rates to just the right level. Now that Greenspan is gone and left us with a boom, we have to be concerned that Ben Bernanke will also develop just the right feel. And probably more importantly--may he be just as lucky as Alan Greenspan.

Fed primer
A great intro to our central banking system that shows us just how tenuously we sway between prosperity and decay, and how guys like Alan Greenspan ride the serpent in the hopes they can get it to go where they want it to, with mixed results. I find it nothing short of existentially frightening that the best economists in the world really don't fully understand how modern macroeconomics works, and that our most important fiscal policies are based on incomplete models.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)    3. Business    4. Business & Economics    5. Business/Economics    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economic Policy    8. Economics - General    9. Government - U.S. Government    10. History    11. Large type books    12. Monetary policy    13. Money & Monetary Policy    14. Politics - Current Events    15. Politics / Current Events    16. Public Policy - Economic Policy    17. U.S. Government    18. United States    19. Current Events / General   

Editorial Review

Helen Keller would not be bound by conditions. Rendered deaf and blind at 19 months by scarlet fever, she learned to read (in several languages) and even speak, eventually graduating with honors from Radcliffe College in 1904, where as a student she wrote Read more

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A Classic
Of course this book is a classic.It is Helen Keller in her own words.It is well written and interesting to be "there" as she developes and learns.If you haven't read the book yet, I recommend you do.I "read" the book as a book on tape. Email:boland7214@aol.

Think about it , Helen was successful in life even though she was blind and deaf
Helen Keller was indeed blind and deaf. I liked this book because it tells you about so much things Helen overcame being blind, deaf and earlier on "dumb" ( bcause she was unable to speak). It makes you realize that you can do anything if you really want to no matter what your circumtance is. Also it teahces people to be content and accept the way or conditions that you are in.It's true when they say " it could have been worse".I read this book to do an essay and i think it was a good choice although it was a little challenging to really comprehend what Helen was always talking about. So if you want to learn more about Helen Keller this is a good good book to learn from.

Very confusing at times
This book is written by Hellen Keller, a blind and deaf woman, telling about her childhood and growing up. The book is filled with anecdotes. Each one is about a page or two long and has no connection with the one before it or the following one. The date can vary from year to year without much warning. I would not recommend this book to young readers. I am 14 and became quite confused at times. I had to read this book for school. There were some very nice points in the book, though. If you are a Hellen Keller fan, I would highly recommend this book. It is full of many things in her life that you would not know if you only read a biography or just watched one of the movies made of her life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1866-1936    2. 1880-1968    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Blind-deaf women    8. General    9. Historical - General    10. Keller, Helen,    11. Large type books    12. Sullivan, Annie,    13. United States    14. History    15. Keller, Helen    16. Literary Collections / General    17. Sullivan, Annie   

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Reviews (226)

Gripping real-life adventure seeking, amateur history, and personal drama
Shadow Divers is a gripping tale that combines the best of real-life thrill-seeking adventure, undocumented war-time history, and friendships and interpersonal drama.Author Kurson brings the reader 223 feet underwater to the sunken remains of a German U-boat located just off the New Jersey coast.Officially, no U-boat ever got that close to the eastern seaboard, and there are no unaccounted-for U-boats which were hit in the area.Post-war record keepers cleaned everything up nicely, filling in the blanks in which data was unclear.
Hoax and Fabrication
This book is ambiguous at best. It should probably be listed as fiction rather than non-fiction since it is so misleading in the way it sensationalizes the two divers with no real truth to back up the claims.
Fantastic story
There is no fantasy in this story, so maybe I should have used another word in the title of this review.
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Subjects:  1. 1952-1993    2. Excavations (Archaeology)    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Military    6. Military - World War II    7. Nagle, Bill,    8. Naval operations    9. Naval operations, German    10. New Jersey    11. Submarine    12. U-869 (Submarine)    13. World War, 1939-1945    14. History / Military / World War II   

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Subjects:  1. Archaeology    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. History    4. History: World    5. Latin America - Mexico    6. Teotihuacan Site (San Juan Te    7. Teotihuacâan Site (San Juan Teotihuacâan, Mexico)    8. United States - General    9. Central American & Caribbean archaeology    10. Mexico    11. Social Science / Archaeology   

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Reviews (55)

A WONDERFUL MEMOIR AND TRIBUTE
This is a good work.As one disgruntled reviewer pointed out, this is not a history book, but rather a memoir and tribute from a son to his father and to one of the many heros of WWII.Having been raised by a father from that era, it is quite apparent to me that my relationship with my father was my no means isolated, but somewhat the norm. This work struck pretty close to home.Having spent over twenty years in the military myself, I can understand some of their thoughts, but even that cannot bridge the entire gap.Those guys looked at life differently than my generation.The author has approached the subject with great sensitivity and through his conversations with these men, I feel, has been able to understand not only them, but himself.I highly recommend this one to any father and any son.Well done Mr Greene.

A Tribute From a Son to His Father
Bob Greene has written a touching and emotion-filled book about two men who influenced the outcome of World War II; his own father and Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay.Greene's father served as an infantry soldier in Italy, while Tibbets was training his men in Wendover, Utah for a mission which would hopefully end the war. A book about a hero and a father and how much are alike
A great book about a true hero and other's worthy of the same label. A very easy and engaging read. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Paul Warfield),    2. 1915-    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    7. Fathers and sons    8. History    9. Large type books    10. Military - General    11. Military - World War II    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Tibbets, Paul W.    14. United States    15. History / Military / General   

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Pollan is my hero!
I am a pharmacist who is also very interested in how diet and exercise maintain people's health.Michael Pollan's book was an incredible eye-opener.I first heard him interviewed on Science Friday on NPR news (podcast) and decided to read his book.It is an extremely well researched book with an entire source list in the back.It is also very entertaining and easy to read.It is obvious he has a great sense of humor.His book encompasses the economics, politics, biology, ecology, and physiology regarding our current american diet.His book has surely changed the way I think about food and I was fairly well versed before I read his book.Now, I am a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and have been spreading the word! This is one of the best and most influential books I have ever read. Everyone should read it.Ignorance is not bliss.Just ask some of my pharmacy customers who have side effects from the medicines they take and have to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on those same medications.

My response to Vegan/Vegetarian horn-tutors
I'm about halfway through this book (I've been kind of skipping around to various parts--which is how I usually read non-fiction books). Modern agriculture, factory farming, and where our food comes from are all subjects near and dear to my heart. These are topics that only people in the industry or professionally trained chefs (which I am) usually know and care about. I don't think veganism/vegetarianism is a good response (and I don't think it will fix anything). Instead, we need to be voicing our displeasure with our dollars.
Must Read for the Health Conscious
The Omnivore's Dilemma is an exploration into the foods that are on our plates and why. The answers he delivers are at times frightening.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Cooking    4. Food habits    5. Food preferences    6. General    7. History    8. Nutrition   

Editorial Review

Abraham Lincoln, who had worked as a riverboat pilot before turning to politics, knew a thing or two about the problems of transporting goods and people from place to place. He was also convinced that the United States would flourish only if its far-flung regions were linked, replacing sectional loyalties with an overarching sense of national destiny.Read more

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a wonderful journey back in time
we loved this book - transported back to a time where our country was expanding - highly recommend

Very Well Written, Factual and Fulfilling!
Stephen Ambrose did a great job of explaining the complicated details that led to the miracle of the transcontinental railroad. Anyone who appreciates herculean feats and the web of intrigue surrounding their beginnings, eventual birth and their effect on our great country will love this story. A true five star book.

The Great race
An engrossing story about the companies and the men behind the building of the Railroad from Omaha to Sacramento. The US Government with its hands tied in the Civil war, sets up a competition between 2 private companies Union Pacific and the Central Pacific who start laying tracks from Omaho and Sacramento. The book details the progress through each state, with insight into the leaders and the workforce behind the construction. Then it reaches a fast pace once we enter Utah where the two tracks meet.
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Subjects:  1. 19th centurry    2. 19th century    3. General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: American    8. Large type books    9. Railroad construction workers    10. Railroads    11. Railroads - History    12. United States    13. United States - 19th Century    14. United States - Civil War    15. History / United States / General   

Editorial Review

Born on October 1, 1924,Jimmy Carter grewup on a Georgia farm during the Great Depression. In Read more

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Excellent!!!
This is one of the best books I've read the past year and one of the best biographies I've ever read.Jimmy Cater, whether you like/respect the man or not, is an excellent storyteller and he takes you back to the years of growing up on a rural Georgia farm during the Great Depression and segregation.The descriptions are so clear it seems like you're actually there. Quite a contrast to the middle class/suburban upbringing I experienced.I also read Carter's Presidential biography, which is also very good, but he's not as long-winded here so the book reads very fast.
Worth the time
President Carter discusses his experiences growing up in rural Georgia during the depression and how it influenced his future public life. Despite the institutionalized segregation that formally kept the races apart, many of the people that shaped the future President's young life were not white. It is amazing to compare the changes in American society from 70 years ago, some for the better (institutionalized segregation and racism), but mostly for the worse. Even though segregation is now gone, it is ironic that the informal happy-go-lucky youthful mixing of the races that President Carter claims helped shape his young life is probably gone now as well; but cynically, I believe Carter over emphasizes this point for political profit. Also, Americans were very frugal, resourceful, and resilient in those days.I don't think today's wasteful, whiney, latte entitlement generation could go through such economic hardship.
The boy behind the man
This is one of the best books I have ever read in any genre. I've always liked Jimmy Carter as a human being, and now I know what made this intelligent, unassuming, hardworking, humorous, and compassionate public figure the man he is. And in addition to that, the book gives a wonderfully rich view of rural life earlier in the 20th century. I would recommend this book to anyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Childhood Memoir    7. Country life    8. Farmers    9. Georgia    10. History    11. Plains    12. Presidents    13. Presidents & Heads of State    14. United States    15. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    16. Biography & Autobiography-Presidents & Heads of State   

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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Air warfare    3. Fighter pilots    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. Large Print    7. Large type books    8. Military - General    9. Military Science    10. United States    11. War & Military   

Editorial Review

Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, Read more

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"Que Sera Sera"
I checked this out of the library and read it on the way to Australia to visit my daughter during her study abroad semester in Brisbane. She read it while we sailed the Whitsundays and dove on the Great Barrier Reef - well, not when we we actually in the water. Before whe started reading it, in conversations I regularly sited Bryson having commented on many of our topics, by saying something, "Just like in the book," or, "Bryson talks about that in the book." A little like Seinfeld having done so many topics, that we live parts of them in our daily lives. Anyway, we left the book on a plane. So, I'll buy a copy for the library and one for me - money well spent. It was a great introduction and punctuated much of the trip. A bus driver in Brisbane was actually whistling "Que Sera Sera," which,I think, was mentioned in the book. I'll find out when I read it again. I'd read Bryson's Sort History of Nearly Everything a couple of years ago. It's also a good read.

Audio CD review: His prose is annoying when spoken aloud
You get your money's worth here--there are a ton of CDs in this audio book. Unfortunately, I found Bryson's prose (which I enjoyed a lot when reading silently, as I have done with his other books) to be greatly irritating when spoken aloud. To me, he sounds kind of 'affected' in parts, and sometimes there is a sort of "moist" sound when he pronounces words. Hard to describe until you hear the CD, but trust me on this one. I think a lot of the positive reviews on here are for the book, and not the CD. I would stick with the written word on this one.

Why I read it twice...a review in two parts.
I took this book with me on a recent trip to Central America and absolutely loved it.While there is less narrative flow than, say, A Walk in the Woods, reading Bryson's thoughts on Sydney harbor, Australian-rules football, former Prime Minister Harold Holt (peace be upon him), forever walking through Canberra, and his near run-in's with a seemingly endless list of nasty (and apparently deadly) native animals was engaging and thoroughly enjoyable.He does this all the while encountering some pretty terrific and endearing folks, drinking many Victorian Bitters, and relaying an impressive and affectionate recounting of Australian history.There really is a lot to like here.So much so that upon finishing the book while still in Central America, and realizing that I committed the unpardonable sin of only bringing one book with me to read (you try finding a decent bookstore in Central America), I turned to the first chapter and started all over again.And it was equally engrossing, witty, and informative if not more-so.I can think of no higher compliment for a book and I recommend it whole-heartedly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & New Zealand - General    3. Australia & Oceania - Australia    4. Australia & Oceania - General    5. Bryson, Bill    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. History    9. History: World    10. Large type books    11. Travel    12. Travel - General    13. Journeys    14. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Editorial Review

Was IBM, "The Solutions Company," partly responsible for the Final Solution? That's the question raised by Edwin Black's Read more

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a tale of two maniacs
Once upon a time in America there was a tabulating company executive who had almost done time for illegal business practices.This executive believed that the only way that he could stay in business was by selling the best tabulating machines on the market, and mercilessly crushing his competitors.Unfortunately for humanity, this maniac was doing business in a country run by another maniac, who had come to power by fomenting ethnic hatred.Even as things went down the drain, and the persecution of the Jews and other minorities reached loathsome heights, the American business executive didn't want to terminate his activities in Germany, and was supportive enough of the Nazis to accept the highest medal the Nazis could give him.
This book is chilling, and is a "must read"
Reading this book, and the knowledge that IBM had during WWII and thegenocide of millins of humans puts a face on cooprorate greed and hate unjlike any of the comparisions given to Halliburton today. IBM aided Hitler in his termination of the Jews, and others, and it has never, to my knowledge owned up to this, nor have they done any actions to make changes in the way companies help with genocide. Great book, great writer.

An Extraordinary Work
As proud as I am to be an American, this thoroughly documented, utterly revealing book, has for the first time made me look at the extents to which U.S. corporate greed and the amorality of one man, Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, will go to satisfy there lust for money and power.
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Subjects:  1. Corporate & Business History - General    2. Economic aspects    3. Europe - Germany    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Holocaust    8. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    9. Large type books    10. Profiteering    11. Business & Economics    12. Corporate & Business History    13. Statistical services    14. International Business Machines Corporation    15. Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H.    16. Jews   

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Reviews (164)

Heart-Warming, Moving Account of the Holocaust
The story of Corrie ten Boom and her family and their work in the Dutch underground during World War II has been around 35 years but this is the first time I've sat down to read this amazing story.I am so glad I did!Built on the premise that love will conquer all, the story shows what relatively normal people can accomplish in extraordinary times.
A Tale Of Love, Courage, And Compassion
In Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place", she gives an exciting account of how during the terrifying years of the Holocaust and World War 11 her entire family strove to hide as many Jews as they could from Nazi forces.
A Moving Tale
This is a beautiful, beautiful book. I could read it over and over, and feel touched, inspired, and renewed again. I first tried to read it when I was about twelve years old, but it was two heavy for me. Then I read it a few months ago, and it came alive. This is one book I would definately want to add to my library soon. I love the Ten Boom family - especially Betsy. I am looking forward to meeting them all in heaven someday. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Historical - Holocaust    3. History    4. Holocaust    5. Large Print    6. Large type books    7. Personal narratives, Dutch    8. Ravensbruck (Concentration ca    9. Religious    10. Ten Boom, Corrie    11. Women    12. World War, 1939-1945   

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Yes, this is true!
This was a very confusing time for us at home trying to read the news. Bing West explains the interaction between the politicians and military commanders. My brother was in Fallujah at this time and enjoyed finding new information.

Average "Joe" view
It's truly amazing what our military men an women go through in Iraq (and elsewhere). Unselfissly risking their lives to help total strangers.Very intense. The book puts you right there in the action.The author comes across as very objective about the war.

Marine dad's view.
My Marine son gave me this book for Christmas 2005 after his deployment to Fallujah. I could not put it down from page one.Bing West is the "real deal" and sets forth the compelling story of the Battle of Fallujah as only a Marine can do. This work is a true and fitting tribute to the brave men who exemplify the best of the Marine Corps core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment."No True Glory" is a must read for any parent with a son in the Corps.
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Subjects:  1. Campaigns    2. Fallujah, Battle of, Fallåujah, Iraq, 2004    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. History: World    6. Iraq War, 2003-    7. Large type books    8. Middle East - General    9. Military - Iraq War    10. Military History - 1990-    11. Rebellion And Insurgency    12. History / Military / General   

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Subjects:  1. Fiction - Religious    2. History    3. Large Print    4. Large type books    5. Miscellanea    6. Oklahoma    7. Religious    8. Texas   

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descent into darkness
what a great book! i couldn't put it down. commander raymer and the men working with him werebrave heroes.this book gives a glimpse of life in hawaii in the early forties as well as the navy'sdiving program in its infancy.not to mention the unique problems of salvaging the ships that were damaged in the pearl harbor attack.i highly recommend this book.

DESCENT INTO DARKNESS

History written by a eyewitness
This really is a first-rate account of a process that has largely been ignored by writers and historians.I think it's a "given" that diving around sunken, fully armed and fueled battleships would be dangerous, but until I read this book I didn't realize just how MANY different hazards there were.For example, who would have known that it's dangerous to enter a previously-sealed but empty compartment that contains rust? (the formation of iron oxide [rust] depletes oxygen in the space)Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Divers    3. History    4. History - Military / War    5. Military    6. Military - General    7. Military - United States    8. Military - World War II    9. Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941    10. Personal narratives, American    11. Sailors    12. United States    13. United States - General    14. Raymer, Edward C   

Editorial Review

Although many businesspeople may not yet be familiar with Dave Longaberger and the hugely successful basket company that bears his name, they probably should be. The story of the man and his enterprise, as told in Read more

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Not A Very Helpful Book!
As stated by another reviewer, this is a book for "Longaberger fans" (pretty much a waste of time and money for anybody else).The wholesome, made-in America image that the Longaberger family is trying to convey seems ironic to me now, since the company is outsourcing a large amount of their products in China.I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone except the die-hard Longaberger enthusiast!

Have you ever had a dream that was draining you dry?
That was Mr.Longaberger's problem. He knew that handcrafted baskets had a place in Americana, but he didn't know how to make it profitable. But he never gave up. While it was running in the red, he was taking money from his business that was running in the black. Wonderful Business Tips If you are a real businessman
If a book's name is success story it will not be a business textbook to explain business strategy or corporate finance. In this book you can see the optimism (which we need right now), persuasion(every entreprenuer needs), and a soft touch to people ( key element to create successful business). So as you understand this book do not make you understand hard business issues but make you understand that the realization of dreams are not restricted to business educated people... It shows you a person who has learning disabilities can create a company of 1 billion dollar worth... it shows you the importance of caring customers and touching customers and caring their families... Read more

Subjects:  1. Basket makers    2. Basket making    3. Biography    4. Business & Economics    5. Business / Economics / Finance    6. Business/Economics    7. Finance    8. History    9. Infrastructure    10. Longaberger Company    11. Longaberger, Dave    12. Ohio