Editorial Review

Finally, someone who tells history like it was, without the old textbook gloss that's put so many students into premature naptime and misinformed the few who stayed awake. Davis corrects the myths and misconceptions from Columbus up through the Clinton administration, and shows that truth is more entertaining than propaganda. ... Read more

Reviews (129)

Misses many points
Yes, there is a disconnect between what is taught what is real sometimes, although I had a problem with this book being a bit too persuading. Personally, I think exposing students to the founding documents as early as possible is critical.A better choice for students might be "The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: the famous pamphlet, Common Sense, adapted and illustrated for all readers." Reading the founding documents first can be a good first step to avoiding misconceptions in American History later.

Great Marxist parody of US History
This was absolutely the funniest parody I have ever read. The eager repetition of "The Supremem Court interpreted the 14th Amendment to give civil rights to Corporations" as the SINGLE WORST argument to ever come forth from that body was one of the funniest lietmotif's in this hysterical parody of US History told from the standpoint of an over-the-top Marxist. Worse than cowboys were BUSINESSMEN!! Eugene Debs and WEB Dubois were the ONLY white americans who were not evil!
Too Politically Correct
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one to notice the anti-White preaching in this book. Not what I expected at all because this is how History is taught today and this is supposed to be an answer to that. I was expecting to learn a lot more - most of the things mentioned I already knew. I graduated from high school in '89 and then got a Bachelor's degree from a state college that wasn't in History. Perhaps this book would be useful to those who have less education. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: World    5. Miscellanea    6. United States    7. United States - General    8. United States History (General)    9. History / General   

Editorial Review

The result of months of intensive investigations and inquiries by a specially appointed bipartisan panel, Read more

Reviews (179)

A perfect example of the US administration "creating its own reality"
The 9/11 commission report should be found in the fiction section of your local book store.
An Absolute Travesty--Deliberately Misleading
I bought a copy of the report feeling that I ought to research the government's account of the events of 9/11.That is of course, exactly what I got.Questions so basic as why the Air Force couldn't prevent the first, second, and third crash, or why the towers collapsed when no steel superstructure building ever fell as a result of fire in all of history before that day, are left unasked and uninvestigated.Additionally, there is no index (a lot like the original Warren Report volumes detailing the events of JFK's assassination), which is absolutely unforgivable for this type of book.
Whitewash. A rewrite of history
To best judge the 911 commission it is logical to look at the commissioners themselves. As chief executive Philip Zelikow was the chief architect of the report. Zelikow is a personal friend of Condoleeza Rice one of the chief witnesses called to testify. He is also a rabid neo con who worked under Bush at the National Security council.
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Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. Government policy    3. History    4. History: American    5. Political Freedom & Security - Intelligence    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Prevention    9. September 11 Terrorist Attacks    10. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    11. Terrorism    12. United States    13. United States - General    14. 21st century    15. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle    16. USA   

Reviews (17)

Terrific Views of Founders
This book is a series of essays on several of our Founders such as Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Burr, Hamilton, etc.The essays address how each fit into his generation and treatment by contemporaries and historians.It is not, by any means, a recitation of dates and events.
Sets the Players in Their Time

rtaylor
For any reader of the Revolutionary period, this is a must read.Gordan Wood distills the thinking of the period and gives the reader a understandable idea of the dynamics of the era that even those who participated did not fully comprehend at the time.The clashing of ideas and those who held them are in the end notable in the key element to the genius of America; the ability to reach consensus and compromise when it is needed.Note the world today to see what results when that is not achieved or here with the American Civil War. Thank you Gordon Wood, and please keep writing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1775-1783, Revolution    2. Biography    3. Historical - General    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Political Doctrines    8. Revolutionaries    9. Statesmen    10. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    11. United States    12. United States - 18th Century    13. United States - Revolutionary War    14. History / United States / General   

Subjects:  1. California    2. History - General History    3. Individual Photographer    4. Mountains    5. Nevada    6. Photo Techniques    7. Photography    8. Photography of mountains    9. Pictorial works    10. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    11. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. Photographs: collections    14. Photography / Nature & Wildlife    15. Places & peoples: general interest   

Editorial Review

Few people outside certain scholarly circles had heard the name Robert D. Putnam before 1995. But then this self-described "obscure academic" hit a nerve with a journal article called "Bowling Alone." Suddenly he found himself invited to Camp David, his picture in Read more

Reviews (62)

Excellent review of the decline of community, but somewhat blinded to the causes
Professor Putnam has written a superb review of the decliine of community in the United States through the end of the 20th Century. He points to television, urban and suburban sprawl, generational change and changing work habits as being the major causes of the collapse of the American community.
An Essential Read
I can't add anything that isn't already on the backcover. Putnam has detailed research showing the loss of social capital in the U.S. and insightful analysis of the implications as well as possible solutions. It's a highly readable book for academics and non-academics alike. A vital read that will be relevant for years to come.

Well Worth Wading Through
This book definitely gets a little bogged down in statistics at points.A couple of the chapters could have been easily trimmed down by a couple paragraphs and tables (and boy are there a lot of tables).However, I still think this book is an important contribution to the discussion of american community versus radical individualism.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. 20th century    3. Anthropology - Cultural    4. Community    5. History    6. Social Classes    7. Social Interaction    8. Social Science    9. Social change    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    16. Cultural studies    17. Social Science / Sociology / General    18. Social groups & communities    19. USA   

Reviews (3)

The last throes of the Civil War
Nicholas Lemann's book, "Redemption", which chronicles the turning points of Reconstruction, centers around the race struggles that occurred in Mississippi in 1874 and 1875 and his central character, a decorated Civil War hero cum governor of Mississippi, Adelbert Ames. It's a good book and a quick read.
Sean Wilentz
After reading Mr. Wilentz's review of this book in the New York Times, I can only conclude that the book's value lies in its review by Mr. Wilentz, who describes it as an "arresting piece of popular history," "uneven," and "simplisitc."I was about to buy Redemption until I read Wilentz's review.Given Mr. Wilentz's personal and cultural background, I can only encourage prospective readers of Redemption to forgo the book and read Mr. Wilentz's prize-winning offerings instead.

The Racists Win In Mississippi
Eric Foner in his "Reconstruction : America's Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877" (1988) wrote the definative account of the post-Civil War South. Mr. Lemann is focusing on one small rural state (Mississippi) in its struggles for racial equality during Reconstruction as opposed to Mr. Foner's big picture approach. In contrast to the images of vile carpetbaggers from "Gone with the Wind", it was southern whites terrorizing newly freed slaves to keep them from political power. The Union army was attempting to be the equalizer as it fought with the KKK, the White Line and other white supremacy groups. The author tends to idealize the Reconstruction politicians (like Adelbert Ames) and demonize the Southern whites (some of whom rightly earned demonization for their violence tactics). Still, it is a good read and a good story to know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. African Americans    3. Civil rights    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: American    9. Segregation    10. Southern States    11. U.S. History - Civil War And Reconstruction (1860-1877)    12. U.S. Local History - Southern States    13. United States - Civil War    14. United States - Reconstruction Period (1865-1877)    15. United States - State & Local - General    16. United States - State & Local - South    17. Violence    18. History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)   

Reviews (10)

From Slavery to the Senate- an incredible history
Mr. Otis Graham spins an engrossing tale about the rise of a former slave to become a millionaire and U.S. Senator, and the descent of his intended "dynasty" into destitution and petty crime. As equally fascinating as the family's personal story, is the national backdrop against which the drama is played out. This is the story of an entire black elite which could not relate to, and even disdained poorer and darker blacks but which could not gain the full acceptance it so desperately sought from upper class whites. It is the story of a time when black people had to try to navigate their way in a truly foreign America where race meant absolutely everything.
Please don't tell the whole story in your reviews!!!!
I usually find the reviews extremely helpful, but several of the reviews go into so much detail that essentially it ruins the reading experience for everyone else. It's obnoxious and unneccessary to tell the whole story in the process of reviewing a book. Providing a critique does not require giving away the story. I honestly feel I've been cheated by the previousreviews and I don't need to buy the book!!
Intriguing look into early black America
First of all you should know that The Senator and the Socialite reads like a novel as opposed to a history book. Those of you who would not normally venture into the non-fictional history section at your local library will enjoy this book as much as those who would.
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Subjects:  1. African American legislators    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Blacks In The U.S.    7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    8. General    9. Historical - U.S.    10. Legislator's spouses    11. Legislators    12. People of Color    13. Political    14. U.S. Senate    15. United States    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

The war on terror has created near unanimity on many points, at least within the American press and political leadership. One essential point of agreement: al Qaeda specifically and radical Islamism in general are stirred by a hatred of modernity. Or as President George W. Bush has articulated repeatedly, they hate freedom. Nonsense, responds the nameless author of this work and 2003's Read more

Reviews (160)

Good, but not Excellent
Overall, this is a great insider's view on CIA work in East Asia against Osama.Mr.Scheuer does a great job explaining the in's and outs of whats going on, being careful not to divulge classified data, but at the same time, paint an open picture of whats going on.
A must read!
As for books on terrorism I believe this is a must read. Michael Scheuer brings up some great point in this book although I do not agree with everything that he has written. One of the more disturbing parts of this book are his views about the United States relationship with Israel. For someone who has worked in the government for such a long time one would think that he understands the benefits of the U.S having a relationship with Israel. It would appear that Mr. Scheuer sees no benefit to such a relationship and he clearly articulates that such a friendship with the Jewish state is causing the U.S. harm. Despite his viewpoint on Israel, Mr. Scheuer brings up many valid points regarding how the U.S. is conducting the global war on terror. This book offers more benefits than disappointments. Like I said, I do not agree with all of his viewpoints but then again I have not seen the information that his had access to while employed with the CIA. Read this book with an open mind and make your own judgement.

Bin Ladin and our failures
The title had me questioning whether I should read the book or not.We all know who the author is now, he is Mike Scheuer.I had problems with the first 3/4 of the book, feeling as if I couldn't figure out who's side he is on. Some have compared him to Neville Chamberlain (if you don't know who he is, look him up.) This comparison is preposterous. I think the author is trying to explain Bin Ladin along with our failures from their side.I kept waiting for the pedestal talk to stop, and it finally did at the end of the book.It is definitely a thought provoking book and should be read by all, if you can get by the semantics and on to the last couple chapters.Tough to find a book that takes on terror, Bin Ladin and the Taliban in this way, but I wish the author would make he himself clear.Maybe that's just his mystique.We are reading the terrorists the wrong way, there is no doubt. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1957-    2. Bin Laden, Osama,    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Government policy    5. History    6. Jihad    7. Middle East - General    8. Military    9. Military - General    10. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Qaida (Organization)    13. Terrorism    14. United States    15. United States - 21st Century    16. War on Terrorism, 2001-    17. History / Middle East    18. International relations    19. Middle East    20. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle   

Reviews (7)

skip this biography
avoid books where the author's personality and florid prose obscure the subject. besides, what precisely does jenkins have against short sentences and one-dollar words?

Good, short, reverential biography
The late Roy Jenkins, in assessing Roosevelt, rates him in the top three of all American Presidents, along with Washington and Lincoln. Whether you like FDR or whether you are one of his critics, it is hard to dispute Jenkins' conclusion. Jenkins believes that had FDR not run for a third term, he would have been one of the better, near great Presidents, but that it took WWII to make him the icon he became. Jenkins fails to point out that FDR did not create any appreciable number of private sector jobs prior to WWII and that, in fact, unemployment was almost as high as it was eight years earlier, when he took office. The reason may be that Jenkins had been a Labour Party member of the House of Commons, accordingly, his world view was that of a government interventionist. However, I ultimately agree that nontheless, FDR was, at least, a better than average President during the depression years, due to the great optimism that he conveyed.
The Good Brief Book on Roosevelt
This is a very good brief introduction to Roosevelt, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a brief understanding of Roosevelt. It is very easy to read and suitable for high school students. Being written by a man from Britain, it also shows how the world views FDR - as one of the most important leaders in world history.
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Subjects:  1. (Franklin Delano),    2. 1882-1945    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Political    9. Presidents    10. Presidents & Heads of State    11. Roosevelt, Franklin D    12. Roosevelt, Franklin D.    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century/Depression   

Editorial Review

The 2003 American invasion of Iraq was contentious, not just in the arena of global public opinion, but within the tight-lipped world of the George W. Bush White House. As Bob Woodward reveals in Read more

Reviews (246)

The 'art' of equivocation.....
Mr Woodward: You are confusing us.
SHOCK AND AWE
It was published in '04, and now, reading it in 09/06, as a latecomer all I can say is, it reads like the careful planning and pains-taking execution of an earth-shattering catastrophe.Years from now I expect George Bush will replace James Buchanan as America's worst president. For this reason alone, the book is or ought to be required reading.It is absolutely fascinating, even now as we look at the smoking ruins of cities and the heaps of corpses, both civilian and military. Less "why we went to war," more "how we went to war"
If you're anything like me, then you've probably been frustrated on more than one occasion when you've looked through your local bookstore's/library's collection of current political events books in a vain attempt to educate yourself as to what has happened in our world since 2000.Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward was my first attempt to learn more about the causes and effects of events that have shaped recent history.I picked it because Bob Woodward was a familiar name (he helped expose the Watergate scandal) out of the dozens of unfamiliar ones and it claimed to have more personal interview time with key people than others on the same subject.
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Subjects:  1. (George Walker),    2. 1946-    3. Bush, George W    4. Bush, George W.    5. Causes    6. Government - Executive Branch    7. History - U.S.    8. International Relations - General    9. Interviews    10. Iraq War, 2003    11. Iraq War, 2003-    12. Officials and employees    13. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    14. Political Science    15. Politics/International Relations    16. United States    17. United States - 21st Century    18. 21st century    19. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    20. Current Events / General    21. International relations    22. Iraq    23. USA    24. War & defence operations   

Editorial Review

Malcolm X's searing memoir belongs on the small shelf of great autobiographies. The reasons are many: the blistering honesty with which he recounts his transformation from a bitter, self-destructive petty criminal into an articulate political activist, the continued relevance of his militant analysis of white racism, and his emphasis on self-respect and self-help for African Americans. And there's the vividness with which he depicts black popular culture--try as he might to criticize those lindy hops at Boston's Roseland dance hall from the perspective of his Muslim faith, he can't help but make them sound pretty wonderful. These are but a few examples. Read more

Reviews (265)

eye opener
Mike Young obviously did not read the book.I read it 3 times and it changed my life forever.The book clearly states that it is the autobiography of Malcolm X AS TOLD to Alex Haley and if you had read the book yourself you would realize that Malcolm was simply telling the story to Alex Haley.He was too busy to sit down and write the book himself and predicted his own murder in the last pages.Maybe you, Mike Young, should take on the challenge of being a thinking human being and read it on your own with an objective mind and then come back and tell us your real thoughts.

People Can Change!
Simply, one of the most amazing stories of change ever told in the English language - and still one of the most mis-understood men in the 20th century.

A tribute to Black Manhood
Some books can change your perception, but only a few can wipe out age-old assumptions, and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew. The question of RACE is at the heart of the American society, and in this book, not only African-Americans, but Americans of all colors, black, white, red and yellow, will find themselves reassessing what racism entails, for Malcolm X life, is a poignant testimony of the black man's struggle against both individual and institutional racism.
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Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Black Muslims    7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    8. Islam - General    9. People of Color    10. Political    11. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    12. Biography & Autobiography / People of Color    13. Biography: political    14. Black studies    15. USA   

Editorial Review

This is the be-all and end-all of mushroom books! Truly an encyclopedia of mushroom facts and lore, lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs, literally everything you need to know about mushrooms, edible or not. Arora has taught mycology for close to twenty years and has hunted and photographed mushrooms across the North American continent. Threaded through the book are his wry and humorous observations and comments, making what could have been a rather dull, "just-the-facts, ma'am" reference book into a really enjoyable read. The stunning photographs of the incredible variety of fungi are fascinating and eye-opening, and while the author gives clear and factual information, the mysterious allure of mushrooms in their countless shapes, sizes and colors is only increased by this huge and delightful book. --Read more

Reviews (29)

A Must Have
I am a biology teacher and own two tracts of woods.I bought two cheaper books thinking, foolishly, that I would then be able to identify most mushrooms.Cheap and thin is easy to carry in the woods, but this is the "mushroom bible" all naturalists should own.Arora handles a jargon rich science exquisitely.His use of humor in a virtual textbook takes away the thick book intimidation factor.Academia could learn a lot from David's style.I wish all the pictures were in color, but that would increase the price and thickness of the volume tremendously.I will add a few other field guides with color pictures for referencing. I now have a hard time believing there are still copies available for sale.I don't know who in their right mind would sell such a volume.I'll have mine until the end.

actually good beginner book
I love this book.
This Book Is Great!
After reading this book, I have a hard time reading other mushroom books.This one is just such fun to read!I subconsciously am looking for other mushroom books to be less dry and as funny as this one, but it just ain't happenin'.I really recommend this book both for the information it contains and the pleasure that you get from reading it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. General    4. Identification    5. Life Sciences - Bacteriology    6. Mushrooms    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Pacific States    10. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS   

Subjects:  1. American - African-American    2. Art    3. Art & Art Instruction    4. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - General    5. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions - Museum    6. Design - Textile & Costume    7. Exhibition Catalogs    8. Folk & Outsider Art    9. Quilt Making    10. Art / American / African-American   

Reviews (9)

Take It Easy turns Take It to the Limit
Having enjoyed Hoskyns' story of L.A. rock's origins and evolution in his Waiting for the Sun, and having read Michael Walker's overlapping (in subject matter, time of study, and time of publication) Laurel Canyon [also reviewed by me], I approached Hotel Cal with anticipation. Although I was still in childhood/adolescence at the time of the early 70s that Hoskyns' new book surveys, and although much of the music was not so much liked by me as simply absorbed from its immensely popular and understandably nearly ubiquitous presence on the local L.A. radio stations at the time, I found myself recalling dozens of songs that I have not heard since three decades ago!