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As funny as the man was.
Steve Allen was a true pioneer in radio and, especially, TV.In this book he chronciles his adventures in the TV world.Along with a coherent history of his progress thru the nascent medium, he throws in an ample supply of anecdotes from his TV days.Some of them are plain old "gotta-put-the-book-down-cuz-you're-laughing-so-hard" variety, and as such, it's almost like seeing the shows. Buy this book tonight
This is, of course, Steve Allen's account of his many years in television.He relates many amusing anecdotes about his experiences.Recomended to any fans of television history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1921-    2. Allen, Steve,    3. Biography    4. Entertainers    5. History    6. Large Print    7. Large type books    8. Television broadcasting    9. United States    10. Allen, Steve   

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Another Tuchman Masterpiece!
Barbara Tuchman certainly earned her way into the hearts of history readers in the 20th century. She gave us many treasures to learn from, and while THE FIRST SALUTE may not have been Tuchman's magnum opus, (I would save that honor for her tome on the Great War, The Guns of August), it is certainly an extraordinary read and unlike any other depiction of the Revolution.
Not Tuchman's best; still an excellent study
Barbara Tuchman's book on the American Revolution, The First Salute, may not be up there with her very best books (The Guns of August, A Distant Mirror), but is still very fine.
Readable, interesting scholarship
No study of the American Revolution is complete without reading Barbara Tuchman's superb book. There are five outstanding strengths to this work:
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Subjects:  1. Campaigns    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History - U.S.    5. Large Print    6. Large print books    7. Large type books    8. Naval operations    9. Revolution, 1775-1783    10. United States    11. United States - Revolutionary War   

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Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Biography: general    6. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Editorial Review

The facts speak for themselves. In 1857, the Read more

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Great story for Entrepreneurs
This is a great story and one that illustrates the determination and innovative mind required to succeed as an entrepreneur. I recommend it to anyone interested in pursuing a dream, starting a business or seeking to find their pot of gold.

Best Shipwreck Book Ever!
I couldn't put it down.The story of BOTH the tragedy of the shipwreck AND the search and salvage operation make this an amazingly interesting read. Don't miss it!

Great Book, with a nagging flaw
This book contains two stories: one of the sinking of a ship laden with gold; the other of its recovery many years later in a different era. It is well written and is all the good things that other reviewers have said. Yet for me there was a growing feeling of discomfort that I could not quite identify at first--a distraction that came close to ruining the second story.
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Subjects:  1. Central America (Ship)    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Maritime History    7. North Atlantic Ocean    8. Ships & Shipbuilding - Shipwrecks    9. Shipwrecks    10. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc   

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Inside the British Secret Service
Peter Wright was a former assistant director of MI5 (Britain's secret service or counter-intelligence). This is his story of his career, including his anecdotes about his American allies. He joined MI5 as a scientist who specialized in tools for espionage. He had been promised credit for his years as a civilian scientist. When this promise was broken at retirement, he wrote this book to even out things. PETER WRIGHT IS DEAD!
Well, the Peter Wright who wrote SPYCATCHER is a deceased person. Your side-bar link to, "...an interview with Peter Wright," leads to an interview with a live Peter Wright, not the dead Peter Wright.Right?

(not a review - please read carefully)
this is not a review, but a note to amazon.comRead more

Subjects:  1. 1916-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Espionage    6. General    7. Great Britain    8. History    9. Intelligence officers    10. Large Print    11. Large type books    12. MI5    13. Wright, Peter,    14. Biography: general    15. Espionage & secret services    16. United Kingdom, Great Britain    17. Wright, Peter   

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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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. Army    2. Campaigns    3. Company E    4. History    5. History - Military / War    6. History: American    7. Large type books    8. Military - United States    9. Military - World War II    10. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 5    11. Regimental histories    12. United States    13. Western Front    14. World War, 1939-1945   

Editorial Review

Thomas Cahill, author of the bestselling Read more

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I found it fascinating
Going back that far into history requires some imagination.Thomas Cahill had some very interesting views on what could have happened back then.He rightly points out that Abraham lived a couple of thousand years before the bible as we know it, was actually written down.He made some points in it that forces me to go back into the old testament and reread some printed oral traditions that were put on paper at the time of Moses.Historically, there are still many questions as to what happened 3000 years ago.Heck, we are still speculating about King Arthur and the round table!I thought it was an interesting read, provoked some thought, and he had some points that do make sense.After all, historians keep telling us that history repeats themselves.Maybe he's just trying to prove that point with today's international sagas.

ZERO IS RIGHT!
This menure is almost as bad revisionism as the irish fairy tale book! He as usual does not sight his sources, and appears to make it up as he goes. Miss MacDonald's review said it very well. If you believe in anything Cahill spews, you may as well believe the "Sun rises in the west." I won't waste another nano-second on anything this hack writes.

The Celts in Ireland

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Subjects:  1. Civilization    2. History    3. History - General History    4. Jewish - Ancient    5. Jewish influences    6. Jews    7. Judaism    8. Judaism - History    9. Religion    10. To 70 A.D   

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Colditz The Last Stop
Colditz the last stop is the incredable true story of Jack Pringle. Taking prisoner by the Germans in the early years of the war he was handed over to the Italians as a POW. Once in Italy he quikly began a series of escapes and recaptures until he was finaly sent to Colditz, a kind of maximum security for POWS being held by the Germans.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - Military / War    3. Military    4. Military - World War II    5. Biography: general    6. Germany    7. Prisoners of war    8. Second World War, 1939-1945    9. World history: Second World War   

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Subjects:  1. (Jean Paul),    2. 1892-1976    3. Biography    4. Businesspeople    5. Getty family    6. Getty, J. Paul    7. History    8. Large Print    9. Millionaires    10. Petroleum industry and trade    11. United States   

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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. Large Print    7. Large type books    8. Murder    9. True crime   

Editorial Review

For history buffs or gardeners who enjoy more than just digging in the dirt, Read more

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If you love tulips and you don't know why...read this book
Tulipomania has been on the market for a few years, and I heard of it quite awhile back and finally got around to reading it.Anyone who loves tulips (and does not know why) needs to read this fascinating book.
Tulip Time
My fiance bought this book for me at Tulip Time 2005 in Holland Michigan. He was born there and spent his whole life there and I have fallen in love with everything Dutch. I just got to start the book a couple of weeks ago but it has been amazing! It conveys everything about the tulip (which I love)! This book is absolutely great!

If you love tulips, read the book
I love tulips, so when I heard about this book I had to read it and I am glad that I did!The book focuses on the tulip craze in Holland, which took place between 1637-39.Tulips started out in China and Tibet they migrate to Turkey where they are cultivated during the "Golden Age" of the Ottoman Empire by Sullieman the Great at his Topkopi palace.From Turkey, they make their way aboard a ship to Holland.
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Subjects:  1. 17th century    2. Economic conditions    3. Flowers - General    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. History    8. Large type books    9. Netherlands    10. Tulip mania, 17th century    11. Tulips   

Editorial Review

Long before he entered politics, when he was just in his early 20s,South Dakotan George McGovern flew 35 bomber missions over Nazi-occupied Europe,earning a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery under fire. Stephen Ambrose,the industrious historian, focuses on McGovern and the young crew of his B-24bomber, volunteers all, in this vivid study of the air war in Europe.Read more

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A SOLID READ - IF NOT THE AUTHOR'S BEST
While I enjoyed this one, it certainly was not the author's best work.It did draw attention to a group of very brave men, the B-24 crew members in the European Theater, which was good as this group and this plane is often overlooked.It did seem to me though that the author, on one side was trying to write a biography of George McGovern, or if he was trying to cover the air war during the last part of WWII.I did enjoy his trade mark technique of telling the stories of different men who participated, but he would always go back to McGovern.Perhaps if he had stuck to one or the other the book would have had more of an impact.Parts of this work did drag and were rather repetative.On the other hand, the author did not try to over dramatize McGovern's part in the war.The work was well crafted and you certainy would not waste your time in reading it.I suppose it is not quite fare to compare this work with other works by this author.After all, no one bats a thousand all the time.Overall, recommend this one with reservations.It is about very brave young men and we do need to know as much about them as possible.

Almost to dramatic to be believed
The only other Ambrose book I've read was "Band of brothers" so I really can't compare it to his other works. But I had to comment after reading the negative reviews. They must have skipped around a lot. This book was so exciting and dramatic it was almost unbelievable. McGovern shows himself to be an exceptional pilot and a true hero. The book is full of unforgetable moments and breath-taking action. After reading it I immediatly started looking up more information on line. I consider it a must read.

Mr. Mc Govern's book.
I have read better books by Stephen Ambrose(or his team of writers...). This one is dull, tiringsome, centered in one person. Ok the guy was supposed to be charismatic in spite of not wining a presidential election long ago forgotten.
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Subjects:  1. Aerial Operations    2. Aerial operations, American    3. B-24 bomber    4. General    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: American    8. Military    9. Military - Aviation    10. Military - World War II    11. Regimental histories    12. U.S. Senate    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. World War, 1939-1945    16. Fiction-General    17. History / Military / World War II    18. History / Modern / 20th Century    19. History-United States - 20th Century   

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An outstanding World War II memoir
Robbie Robinson's story is one of adventure and heroism, yet it also possesses a human touch that allows readers to laugh (and sometimes mourn) along with him.World War II buffs will love this book, as will anyone interested in aviation (particularly military aviation).As a bonus, the book includes shorter (but equally memorable) reminiscences by other servicemen (and by Robinson's own wife) that are finally, thankfully, being set down on paper.This book attests to the strength and courage of the greatest generation, and is a moving tribute to all who lived through that conflict.Readers should choose the second edition; the new material is not to be missed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. History / Military / World War II    6. Military - Other    7. Biography    8. Historical    9. History    10. Military - World War II    11. Pilots and pilotage    12. Robinson, F. Willard    13. United States    14. World War, 1939-1945   

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Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. History / General   

Editorial Review

It's often said there's nothing certain in life except death and taxes. According to two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalists Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele, however, the latter part of that adage is now decidedly in dispute. Read more

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The Essence of the Argument is There...
While there are some short-comings with this book, the overall general idea rings true, and their evidence supports the claim.The book does not aim to be a fix-all for the numerous troubles that ail american democracy.Rather, it simply aims to expose yet another example of class preference in American society. Informative but unhelpful
The major portion of the book confirms our suspicions of the massive tax avoidance and evasion that is extant in the U.S. today. I found much of the material to be revealing of the methodology used by rich and poor to escape the responsibility of paying ones dues. Terrific Book
Barlett and Steel won two Pulitzer prices for journalism so you know their work is high quality. This book will offend some readers, especially the devious rich and the gray-area almost-crooks. But I hope it will anger the hard working stiffs in the middle class who still believe paying taxes is the price of having a good society. The authors make a convincing case that Congress does not care to make the system just or fair and that America is in danger of moving toward the Banana Republic and some-European-countries model where if you pay your taxes honestly you are considered a fool.How bad it has gotten can be seen in the case of our famous former president, who managed to leave his presidency in such a sleazy way. The book came out last fall and maybe Bubba read the pages on Marc Rich, who could be described as a crook and an enemy of America. But that didn't stop our president from granting him a pardon. Could a $450,000 donation to the Clinton library and some $150,000 donated to Hilary's senate campaign have anything to do with that? Of course not. I give this book five stars because it is well researched and well written, fascinating from beginning to end. See what a boon the Internet has become for tax cheats. See how venerable Swiss banks are only too happy to help you hide your undeclared income. See how Congress crippled the IRS. We now have the best government and representatives money can buy and nobody cares.Almost nobody. A man like Sen. McCain is a miracle, because he is one of the solutions. Read this book. It's terrific. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. History    5. History: American    6. Income tax    7. Large print books    8. Tax evasion    9. Taxation    10. United States   

Editorial Review

Michael Capuzzo tells the harrowing story of the real-life Read more

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The true story of Jaws...
Most shark enthusiasts have heard of the Jersey Shore attacks of 1916.They were the inspiration for Jaws and are referenced in the movie.Michael Capuzzo's book is a non-fiction novel (think In Cold Blood) of those attacks.Nowadays, the popular opinion is that these attacks were not the work of one shark.Capuzzo's book is daring because he asserts that they were all the work of one rogue great white shark.For those of you who follow such things, you know that the notion of a "rogue shark" - a deliberate man-eater - has fallen out of fashion.Yet, Capuzzo makes a compelling argument - after all, is it MORE likely that these freak attacks were the work of different sharks?
horror looms invisibly..............
Michael Capuzzo tells the horrifying yet intriguing story of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks.The author does not just give the facts of the terrifying attacks but surrounds them with the a vivid feel for the lifestyle of this era of innocence.From the wealthy, with their styles and extravagant vacations to the working class cooling off in a creek on their lunch hour, Michael Capuzzo draws the reader into this time period.Then, at an exclusive resort, a shark attack claims a victim, one of at least five victims to die, in a string of well documented attacks by a Great White Shark.
This booked got me reinterested in history
Close to Shore was the first book of my post-academic adult life to make me interested in history. Capuzzo does a wonderful job of describing America at the start of the 20th century. The political, social, and economic changes that would shape the world I grew up in are revealed. I gained new insight. Oh, and by the way, a shark attacked some people. As you can see from my perspective, the significant part of the book is not the shark. The shark provides a fantastic backdrop to display an era. Read this book because you are more interested in the era than in sharks. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Fishes    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fish    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Large type books    8. Marine Life    9. New Jersey    10. Shark attacks    11. Sharks    12. United States - State & Local - General   

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The History Review
I've already seen this book and I think it's great for that time period. It helped me with a biography too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Biography    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. History    6. History - United States/General    7. History: American    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Juvenile literature    10. United States    11. American history    12. Biography: general    13. Historical figures    14. Reference works    15. Social Sciences    16. USA   

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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: American    4. United States - 20th Century    5. History / United States / 20th Century   

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A Call to Conscience - MLK Jr.
I was somewhat disappointed in this product. The sound quality on some of the speeches is pretty poor and amateurish. There is too much commentary and not enough of the speeches. Another cassette I had purchased before "The Voice of Greatness" ( which I believe you can find on Ebay in CD format) was much better.

Deserves More Than 5 Stars!
The book "A Call To Conscience" gives excellent information surrounding Dr. King's speeches but it is the audio, hearing the speechs come from Dr. King's heart, that every person should experience- you cannot describe it in written language.
Awakened Conscience
I got the CD version and it awakened me.Not that I have been totally alseep.It just re-awakened me to the power of MLK's voice and message.So much power, truth, and Godliness.In this world that we live in today, I would advise anyone to pick this up.It is a must have, for anyone that needs help in putting things in perspective. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. African Americans    3. Civil rights    4. Civil rights movements    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. History    7. Large type books    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Political Science    10. Politics - Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States   

Editorial Review

In the early 20th-century era of daring polar exploration, the less-trumpeted fishing and hunting expeditions went largely unrecorded. Except, that is, for a recently discovered tale about a Russian hunter and his shipmate. Valerian Albanov's account of his 18-month-long survival in the Siberian Arctic remained unknown until a group of polar-literature enthusiasts rediscovered it in 1997. Translated into English for the first time, Read more

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Don't Cry for Me, Saint Anna
In 1912, the Russian ship Saint Anna, undersupplied and with an incompetent captain, set out to sail the Northeast Passage across the top of Asia. Frozen into the icepack in the notoriously treacherous Kara Sea, the ship drifted north for a year and a half.
Exciting true life adventure
I've always been fascinated about Arctic & Antartic exploration, and try to read any books about it that I can find. This first-person work by a Russian officer on an ill-fated Arctic journey from 1912 to 1914 is certainly a very exciting one, even though the author tends to be laconic at times about his exploits. He tells the story of his ship becoming icelocked, and then of his trek, with several other companions, across the trackless wastes of the Arctic to look for a safe haven on distant land. It's quite compelling, and makes for very gripping reading. The paperback edition of this work contains additional material gleaned from the diary of one of the author's companions on this treacherous journey, and it sheds some additional light on what happened, and especially on the mysterious two men who abandoned the party during the trip, and left them in a very precarious position. It's a book well worth reading for anyone interested in the Arctic, or indeed for anyone who can admire the lengths to which the human spirit and body will push itself in order to survive under the most exteme of conditions.

A true account of survival in the Siberian Arctic
The Russian exploration vessel, the Saint Anna, set sail in 1912 to search for hunting grounds in the North Polar region.Within a few months, the crew of 33 had become icebound and spent the next year and a half trapped in the ice, drifting farther and farther North.In 1914, the navigator, Valerian Albanov, decided to risk a trek across the ice with the hope of reaching Franz Josef Land.13 crewmen set off across the ice, with the remaining 20 choosing to stay on board the ship.Of the 13 crewmen, only two survived.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1884-1914    2. Arctic regions    3. Brusilov, Georgii Lvovich,    4. Brusilov, Georgiæi L§vovich,    5. Discovery and exploration    6. Expeditions & Discoveries    7. General    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Polar Regions    12. Svëiìataëiìa Anna (Ship)    13. Travel