Editorial Review

Bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Tulane University, lived through the destruction of Hurricane Katrina with his fellow New Orleans residents, and now in Read more

Reviews (73)

The Great Deluge--Great but tragic
Having becoming acquainted with Mr. Brinkley via the tv interview--I knew I must read this book. Having read of the overwhelming sorrows and heartbreaks of this storm, I am now very disallusioned with many of our higher ranking government officials, the first being Michael Chertoff and not stopping at his level either. To really get an accurate fix on what happened with katrina, this book is a must read.

Too opinionated!
If you hate President Bush, you'll love this book.But if you are seeking a true historical account (which the book does not contain unfortunately) of a major disaster without all the left-wing editorial padding, skip this book.

CRESENT CITY
Douglas Brinkley loves New Orleans and you can feel his pain for his beloved city in every page.This is a man who wants New Orleans to come back better, as a city that works and where corruption is not rampant and he spells out what went wrong and what can be done to make New Orleans whole again.It is a well written, tough love letter to the city and I hope everyone in New Orleans reads this.I am very familiar with the city and I am very skeptical, especially when they reelected Mayor Nagin, that is old New Orleans, it's really up to the city because if they are not willing to change the culture of corruption and institutional poverty, then the city will end up a Savannah..a quaint strange town of no real national importance..what a fate for one of the great American cities.Come on, New Orleans..look to Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas..those cities work and that is where your middle and upper middle class live now..if you want them back you'll have to change if not..your looking at Galveston, Louisiana... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Disaster relief    2. Gulf Coast (U.S.)    3. History - U.S.    4. Hurricane Katrina, 2005    5. Hurricanes    6. Louisiana - Local History    7. Natural Disasters    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Rescue work    11. United States - 21st Century    12. United States - State & Local - South    13. History / United States / State & Local / South (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)   

Reviews (45)

When The Flag Had 52 Stars
Nov. 4, 1979 dawned wet and chill on the streets of Tehran, Iran. Life would get much hotter before the day was out. The American embassy would be stormed by hundreds of students, and it would take 444 days before 52 of those captured inside saw freedom again. For them, and many of their countrymen, days went by slowly as the concept of Islamo-fascist terrorism was forcibly introduced upon the global stage.
Bowden nails it
I like to read Mark Bowden for his clear prose and his ablity to to tell a tale.
Meticulous As Always
Mark Bowden delivers his excellent work at another crucial point in the relations between Iran and the wider world.Iran somehow identifies itself primarily in its opposition to the United States, whether it bethe Olympic loss of the US basketball team or the one-term presidency of Jimmy Carter."Guests of the Ayatollah" is mostly composed of the experiences of the hostages, but by placing the events in a larger global context Mark Bowden creates an extremely relevant and compelling work.Bowden's recent visits to Iran to interview some of the hostage-takers reveal a rainbow of opinion, some are embarassed by their youthful enthusiasm, and others who have parlayed the eventsof 1979 into political careers.Dropping the dramatic movie-script style of Black Hawk Down, Bowden still delivers a taut, interesting, and as usual, insightful book.
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Subjects:  1. Chronology    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Hostages    6. International Relations - General    7. Iran    8. Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981    9. Middle East - General    10. Middle East - Iran    11. Personal narratives    12. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    13. U.S. Foreign Relations    14. U.S. History - 1970s    15. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    16. History / Middle East   

Reviews (9)

can't put it down
i sat in barnes and noble and read about two or three chapters from this book. it easily kept me captivated.
A must for music enthusiasts
"Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood" is an interesting book in which one learns about the origins of pop-rock music in that there were a great number of bands and musicians that started their careers in a residential area in Los Angeles, California. The book is devoted to contributions of such artists as Frank Zappa, the band known as the Eagles, the band known as the Byrds, and Jimmy Webb, to the genre of music that is known as American rock, and with some artists/bands, there are even interviews in which they chronicle what it was like to perform in those days. Michael Walker also shares with readers a little bit of information on the history of cocaine as it was not only relevant to that time period, but also had something of an influence on the development of this music all the way from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s.

the magic of the 60s revisited
For those who continue to debate whether San Francisco or Los Angeles was the epicenter of 60s music, Michael Walker provides the answer. He skillfully paints a multidimensional mural of a fabled time period. Walker uses the unique perspective of a location as metaphysical as it is geographic to describe the musical culture of the 60s and 70s. The magic of those years is deftly captured in Walker's words. He leads us through the twists and turns the canyon takes in the 80s, portraying a location attempting to hold on to its aura long past its prime. All in all a great read, although I wish there had been more stories of the musicians of the 60s. Walker's writing is as colorful and tightly woven as any tie-dyed wall hanging. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Genres & Styles - Rock    3. History & Criticism - General    4. History and criticism    5. Los Angeles    6. Music    7. Music History And Criticism +    8. Music Of The 20th Century    9. Music/Songbooks    10. Popular culture    11. Rock music    12. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (28)

Looking for a great survey of a great country?
This hefty book goes through the history of the United States from the Age of Discovery with great sailors to the 20th Century where America had established their position as one of the world's superpowers.It's very interesting to see how The ideas that we hold sacred were almost happened upon by the founders and the fact that those ideas perservered through adversity from all directions.Bennett describes the political scene in depth and leaves out much of the cultural makeup of the nation, but one can still get a good feel for the way life was back then.The author gives a strong backing to the Republican party throughout American History (claiming Jefferson's party was 'Republican' instead of Democratic Republican) and shows the 'Democrats' as the clear antagonist to freedom and prosperity.This may be true in some contexts, but Bennett fails to recognize the inconsistency within the Republican party- starting out more democratic and ending up more federalist, and how the republican party started off as radicalists and entered the 20th century as the conservatives.This ebb and flow of political status is more an more evident as the current administration shows- what fiscally conservative politician can claim to have presided over the largest government budget in the history of America?
A superb, well balanced history of the United States
Revisionist histories that cast the United States as an evil nation have been all the rage among academics for the past several decades. William Bennett has an answer to that trend: a wonderfully written, well-balanced American history that doesn't hesitate to describe the mistakes along the way to the creation of the best functioning, longest lived democracy on the planet.
An Excellent Textbook
I found this to be the best book on American history that I have read.The author covers colonial history and then proceeds to address each presidential election and administration. There are many tidbits of information that I did not know or had forgotten.These included: George Washington as president leading the militia to oppose the Whiskey Rebellion; a story told of the rotund President Taft giving up his seat on the trolley to three ladies; President Grover Cleveland being awakened by his wife who tells him there is a burglar in the house and his reply: no, in the senate maybe but not in the house.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: American    5. United States    6. United States - General    7. United States History (General)    8. History / United States / General   

Reviews (347)

A Two For Effort
This book is written from the viewpoint of a flaming socialist with the attitude that anything white or European or is overly valued in American history textbooks.Loewen does have many valid points about what history textbooks omit, but the degree to which he is clearly slanted to the left is ludicrous."Lies My Teacher Told Me" could have been an amazing book, but all it did was aggrivate me and motivate me to write a 23 page paper debunking half of what the author wrote, much to the dismay of my idiotic Sociology professor.The only reason I didn't give the book 1 star is because the overall intent and effort put forth were good, but the book as a whole is just far too biased.

an important book
Interesting, informative, and should be required reading for high school and college students.

A mixed review
I have mixed feelings about this book.
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Subjects:  1. Historiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. Indians of North America in te    6. Indians of North America in textbooks    7. Study & Teaching    8. Textbooks    9. Thanksgiving Day in textbooks    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. United States History (General)    13. History / General    14. Humour    15. USA   

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. Biography/Autobiography    3. Historical - Holocaust    4. Personal narratives, Dutch    5. Ravensbruck (Germany : concentration camp)    6. Religious    7. Ten Boom, Corrie    8. Women    9. World War, 1939-1945    10. Biography: general    11. History / Holocaust   

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

Reviews (31)

A House Divided
"The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America" will challenge any illusion the reader holds that America has left her divided and racist history far behind. Truly a heart rending account of apartheid schooling that bridges the larger social implications of racial and economic disparity with the daily life and dreams of our children.

A voice for those who do not have a say right now.
Promises made are not always promises kept.We all say that we want education to be a priority for all.Do we all really support that?The Shame of the Nation exposes the compliancy that many Americans have when it comes to actually promoting equal opportunities for all.We want our professional athletes and Olympic contestants to be able to compete and train in the best facilities and with the best practices.This enables them to reach their fullest potential and beyond.We should all be willing to support this endeavor for the education of all of our students.This book helps us to walk in another's shoes and truly empathize with the inequaties that so many children must deal with.Reading this book should open ones eyes to how many future adult American are set up for failure.Brown vs. Board of Education may have imposed laws for equality but it must go further into the mindset of funding agencies.If we are truly to become equal, we must alleviate the barriers that cause the fragmentation of opporutnity and success.
Opened my eyes to problems in our public education system
This book explains how racial segregation in the public schools has been getting worse and why that is a problem.If children interact with other races at a young age, they're less likely to have racist ideas as adults.When people extol the legal and political victories that allowed integrated schools, Kozol finds it ironic because even though apartheid is not the law, current public policy discourages integration.Well-meaning parents in affluent school districts lobby against any zoning change that would include children from poorer areas.The result is that school districts are unintentionally set up to segregate the poor from the middle class and dark-skinned from the ligher-skinned.This makes our society seem horribly unfair to the children going through the segregated, inferior schools.
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Subjects:  1. Administration - General    2. De facto school segregation    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Education    5. Education / Teaching    6. Educational Policy & Reform    7. General    8. Multicultural Education    9. Philosophy & Social Aspects    10. Sociology Of Education    11. United States    12. Education / General   

Editorial Review

Ron Suskind won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1995 for his stories on Cedric Jennings, a talented black teenager struggling to succeed in one of the worst public high schools in Washington, D.C. Suskind has expanded those features into a full-length nonfiction narrative, following Jennings beyond his high-school graduation to Brown University, and in the tradition of Leon Dash's Read more

Reviews (110)

A poignant and insightful story
What does it take to overcome great obstacles and find the best in oneself? The author found a young man named Cedric Jennings to explore this question. The author observes Cedric's life in a uniquely honest way. We are able to experience first-hand the often painful and complicated emotions of young people who grow up in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods and broken homes. The day to day experiences of these young people often necessitate the need to focus on emotional and financial survival, rather than intellectual pursuits or personal aspirations.
A tale of a boy who made it out...
This book would typically not be on my list of interesting reading; but the book was for college so I thought I would read it.To my great suprise, the book actually made emotions run through my body when I read it.It wasn't that these experiences were personal for me; but I recognized the struggle I had seen so often and how I seemed to be a part of the "majority" who didn't know any better.This seemed to bother me the most, I kept asking myself, "Am I really that ignorant?".The answer unfortunetly was yes, I really had become just another example of something the minority had to struggle so hard against to succeed.The idea that my suburban schools were far ahead of all the inner city schools seemed almost ludicrous.The more I looked into it, the more I realized that this struggle has been going on longer than I have lived, and that even though I feel bad for the minority; I still continue to live my life casually without sticking my neck out for others.
Grasping for the Gold Ring
"A Hope in the Unseen" provides insight into an ambitious, Africian American highschooler's mind as he pursues good grades and a life of integrity. Cedric, a Ballou High School student from Washington, DC, shares his journey with us as he, not only plans to graduate from high school as an honor student, but also heads into an Ivy League college and steps into his career with dignity.Great read for any one desiring to take responsibility of their own life and go for the "gold". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-American college students    2. Afro-American teenage boys    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Discrimination & Racism    6. Education    7. Frank W. Ballou Senior High School (Washington, D.C.)    8. People of Color    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Urban    12. Specific Groups - General    13. Students    14. Washington (D.C.)    15. Modern fiction    16. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    17. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (85)

Heartbreaking, but true...
This book shows there could be millions of minorities living in a stagnant way of life, where they're not able to achieve or dream of the so called American dream. I loved this book, I felt this book, this book is important and it should be read by anybody that cares for those living a life that's unimaginable to many of us. Through everything Lafayette and Pharaoh were still children, I felt a lot of hope in this book. Through it all there was some kind of peace. This is my favorite book from Alex, I've read his other book The Other Side of the River and There Are No Children Here is his absolute best.

Welcome To The Real Word
One of the best books that I read this year. "There Are No Children Here" is about two brothers try to fit into there world. These two brothers are deciding who they are.The two brothers are Lafeyette and his younger brother Pharoah. This book takes place in the Chicago projects. At the Henry Horner Homes. Everyday these boys only see violence. They see drugs, gangs, and murder. Lafeyette and Pharoah mother LaJoe talks to a report who is a writer for magazines.The report ask LaJoe "Can I talk to the children here" she says "There no children here" As Lafeyette and Pharoah grow up they only have a mom. So Lafeyette is a father figure to his younger brother Pharoah. As Lafeyette goes to his teen years he starts to hang with gang members and goes to jail a few times. Is Lafeyette a good father figure for is brother? Pharoah the younger brother is very dedicated young man he will always put a 100% in no matter what. He will never give up. What will happen to these two brother while grow up in the Chicago projects? Will they hang with Gangs and do drugs or will they try to make it out of the Projects and be someone. While read this book you feel like you are in the story, you feel like you are the report write everything. You could really see this really happen. I enjoy this book because it talks about the real world that we do not see ever day.

There Are No Children Here
There Are No Children Here
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Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Chicago    3. Children    4. Children's Studies    5. Ethnic Issues    6. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    7. Family    8. Illinois    9. Inner cities    10. Social Science    11. Social conditions    12. Sociology    13. Sociology - Urban    14. Modern fiction    15. Social Science / African-American Studies   

Reviews (3)

Zealotry With A Cause
David Mamet here displays the pugnaciousness of a Norman Mailer without the self-embellishing promotionalism.Speaking for myself, I do not need the names and behaviors of those Jews who fit the ideal type self-abnegator constructed by Mamet.They are to be found everywhere, including parts of my extended family and even in my own house.But, unlike Mamet, I don't think Jewish self-hatred is only repulsive.The true victims of Jewish ambivalence are the descendents of those Jews who internalize the self-mocking, Woody Allenesque gibes of their "wicked son" parents.They have squandered their own birthright and are too ignorant about its content and value to understand what they've lost. If anything, though he pulls no punches, Mamet does not make the case strongly enough.But for a solid opening salvo, I'd recommend this book to any disaffected Jew who doesn't at present understand the benefit of "showing up" to lead an obligated Judaic life and helping to make community.

did I agree with it all?No, but it forced me to think....
As a gay Jew of Color, I often think about self-hatred.This society has taught me to not like myself for a number of reasons.Mamet forces me as Jew to look at how I have internalized these messages.Did I agree with his analysis all the time?No but I had to think....

Reactionary ethnocentric nationalism from a "progressive"
Mamet is both a celebrated playwright and one of the most chauvinist and ethnocentric nationalists extant. If a traditional Catholic were to say about the pope and the Church what Mamet says about rabbis and the Synagogue in this book, he would be denounced as a reactionary bigot and hardly taken seriously. Instead, by some sleight of hand he may have picked up from his stage-magician pal Ricky Jay, Mamet's Judaic jingoism is transformed into a progressive appeal. To what? Blind faith in dogma and ideology as a path to salvation? Did anyone ever hear of the Enlightenment? Thank God for Pfefferkorn, Spinoza, Shahak, Chomsky, Kaye, Finkelstein and all the other "apostates" who had the courage and integrity to break free. Read this book as a case study in megalomania and paranoia from one of the grandees directing contemporary culture in America. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antisemitism    2. Discrimination & Racism    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Identity    7. Jewish - General    8. Jewish Sociology    9. Jewish Studies    10. Jews    11. Judaism - History    12. Self-hate (Psychology)    13. History / Jewish   

Editorial Review

From abortion to "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias, Abrams vs. United States tothe Zenger trial, and abstract impressionism to Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, Read more

Reviews (4)

Fails as a Guide to American History
Students and history buffs need a good, comprehensive volume on the significant people, events, movements and changes in the United States over the course of its history. This volume, from the leading publisher of reference books in the English language, fails and disappoints with regard to these goals. This Oxford Companion tries to be the United States History of Everything, as a result it misses key aspects of political history and what it does cover is often inadequate and incomplete. a vital and reliable companion to u.s. history today
This volume contains entries that deal with concepts, events, persons, and movements in u.s. history. The length of the entries is appropriate to the topic considered. In addition, the entires both inform the reader with up-to-date information and indicate how revisionist historians have resahped opionions or refocused the discipline. The entries are clearly written and eminently readable. They are persuasive in thier opionions, yet respectful of other stances. The cross references are helpful and ample. The same obtains for the bibliographies. The Oxford Companion to U.S. History far surpasses some other contemporary dictionaries in U.S. history. Its articles are treated in more depth and greater nuances. The entries in the other dictionaries are too short and far too superficial. I would highly recommend this for people involved in serious historical study and research.

a vital and reliable companion to u.s. history today
This volume contains entries that deal with concepts, events, persons, and movements in u.s. history. The length of the entries is appropriate to the topic considered. In addition, the entires both inform the reader with up-to-date information and indicate how revisionist historians have resahped opionions or refocused the discipline. The entries are clearly written and eminently readable. They are persuasive in thier opionions, yet respectful of other stances. The cross references are helpful and ample. The same obtains for the bibliographies. The Oxford Companion to U.S. History far surpasses some other contemporary dictionaries in U.S. history. Its articles are treated in more depth and greater nuances. The entries in the other dictionaries are too short and far too superficial. I would highly recommend this for people involved in serious historical study and research. The price, especially the discounted one offered by amazon.com, is well worth the investment for scholars,libraries, and families. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    2. Encyclopedias    3. History    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Reference    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. United States History (General)    10. American history    11. History / United States / General    12. History, American    13. Reference works    14. USA   

Editorial Review

Donald Trump doesn't pull any punches when he surveys the American political scene: Pat Buchanan's "totally lost it," Al Gore is "an able, underrated man who seems confused," and Bill Bradley is simply a "disaster." But the real estate tycoon has some ideas of his own about how the United States should be run, and he shares them with the potential electorate for the 2000 presidential race in Read more

Reviews (13)

Who Can Disagree With The Title?
I think most anyone would agree with Mr. Trump that the America he describes within this book would be an ideal nation. The problem is, Donald Trump does not know anymore than anyone else about how to achieve the problems he very practically identifies. The math of what's lacking in this book could be described with an equation like this: A+X=C. A is where we are today in the America we have, C is the "America we deserve" now what is X that would get us to C? I have no idea. I wish someone knew.
Classic Trump prose mixed with logic and wit
It's about time a guy like Donald Trump published this book. Whether you love him, hate him, or want him to fix his hair, The Donald presents fresh takes on age-old arguments and explains why he has what it takes. Trump beat Gore and he didn't even run!
According to surveys taken at that time, Trump was ahead of Gore and just behind G.W.Bush. No doubt if Trump would have run, Gore would have blamed him too!Read more

Subjects:  1. 1980-    2. American    3. Biography    4. Businesspeople    5. Current Affairs    6. Political    7. Political History    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Real estate developers    11. Social conditions    12. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    13. U.S. Government    14. United States    15. United States - General    16. Political Science / General   

Reviews (1)

THIS IS SURPRISINGLY ENTERNTAINING!
The authors spent about four years collecting doodles from as many presidents as possible. The results are presented here. Did you know Hoover's doodles were used for a line of baby clothes? Did you know Johnson's administration was filled with doodlers? The authors give context to each president's times along with the reproduced doodles. I read about this book online, but when I actually saw a copy and picked it up, I was hooked! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. American Satire And Humor    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Government - Executive Branch    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: American    8. Subjects & Themes - General    9. Topic - Political    10. United States - General    11. United States History (General)    12. Drawing & drawings    13. English    14. Political leaders & leadership    15. USA   

Reviews (1)

National-socialism
I always wanted to know what Hitler tells to masses. I have big interest in his speeches, in his style of talking. It is a great book for me because it unclude the most important Adolf's public speeches. I enjoied reading it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1933-1945    2. Europe - Germany    3. Germany    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Holocaust    7. Politics and government    8. Sources    9. European history: Second World War    10. Fascism & Nazism    11. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive History 1 Textbook
I really like this textbook because it presents the material in a way that I can easily grasp and remember. Past history books have bored me, but this one isn't too bad :) It's also great that it's in paperback because that makes it cheaper! ... Read more

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

Reviews (166)

Oh boy, more "lets understand the terrorist" garbage
The religion of peace is at it again!In response to the popes words, muslims all over the world respond with violence, destruction, rage, hatred, burning down buildings, burning papal effigies, issuing fatwas against the pope, and even shooting a 70 year old nun in the back.Wow, such peace from a religion of "peace".If Islam is a religion of peace, then all the guns in the world are pink flowers, and every nuclear bomb, a soft feathery pillow.Violence for words.Destruction for speech.PLEASE!This is a religion of war, and bereft mindless 70 year old bags like Noam have begun to lose a lot of mental function with age.This old bag of a man gives Muslims free passes and blames America.
Chomsky is a lunatic, take with a grain of salt
I picture Chomsky in a sunless, cluttered apartment full of scattered yellowing newspapers, surrounded only by walls of his own clippings.Yes, his recent writing is the result of too little exposure to the real world.Not everything is a conspiracy theory, and not all facts or events paint an overall trend or picture.The world is too random for all similar events to be related.But when you surround yourself with your own highlighted facts of history and dwell on them day after day trying to sell your thoughts, the result is going to be nonsense.I respect Chomsky's right to say what he thinks, and as a liberal I often find myself agreeing with him (but for vastly different reasons).What I do not respect are those readers who take his words as gospel, when they are simply the rantings and ravings of someone who has lost touch with how the real world works.Throwing together a bunch of events across history does not make for a lucid view of how we got to the present and what to do about the current problems.To me, he is no different from those who have assembled enough disjointed evidence as to convince themselves that 9-11 was perpetrated by the U.S. government.