Reviews (18)

Accessible history
Alter's book on FDR is an engrossing, meticulously researched history of FDR's early life and First Hundred Days, that somehow also manages to be, simply put, a good read.
A great book to read
This is a non-profound book by an outstanding journalist which I enjoyed much.While FDR's inauguration on March 4, 1933, and the hundred days thereafter are the main topic of the book, the account of the run-up to that day is well told and full of interest to someone who cannot remember those times, even if one has read much on them since.I don't know that I had ever realized that his nomination was in jeopardy, but Alter states the if FDR had not been nominated on the 4th ballot he might well have not won the nomination at all, which, if true, I had not realized.As in most books like this one, there are a few errors I noticed, and I will set them out so they can be corrected in the next printing:1. On page 141, in discussing a thought about having Hoover and Curtis resign after appointing FDR Secreatry of State (so FDR could take over before March 4), Alter says the Speaker and the President pro tem of the Senate would also have had to resign in order for FDR to become President--but this is wrong because in 1933 the Secretary of State was next in line to be President after the Vice-President.The Speaker did not become next in line until the law was changed in 1945 or so.2.On page 295 and on another page Alter refers to a "bankruptcy judge" in Iowa who was maltreated in 1933 by irate farmers.That judge, C. C. Bradley, was not a "bankruptcy judge" but a district court judge, who had no jurisdiction in regard to bankruptcy.3.On page 316 there is a reference to "Senator Thomas P. Gore of Rhode Island."Thomas P. Gore was a blind Senator from Oklahoma, not Rhode Island.4.On page 317 there is a reference to "Bennett Clark of Pennsylvania."Bennett Clark was a Senator from Missouri, not Pennsylvania.
The Defining Moment:FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope
Very interesting anecdotes from political history.The most interesting element of the book is how I related it to present day.For that reason, the lessons of the book proved motivational.As FDR overcame various issues to become one of the country's most popular and effective presidents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1932    2. Biography    3. Election    4. Government - Executive Branch    5. History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: American    8. New Deal, 1933-1939    9. Political History    10. Political Process - Leadership    11. Presidents    12. Presidents & Heads of State    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. United States - 20th Century/Depression    16. History / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (2)

Seeing history from an amazing perspective
Reading someone else's old letters can evoke universal feelings and can even bring to life a time before we were born. This is what happens in "Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present," edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler. In more than 800 pages, the editors compiled women's letters from 1775 up to and including the current war in Iraq. The letter writers include slave owners, slaves, politicians, movie stars, moms and daughters. There are love letters, a "last will and testament" and eyewitness accounts of historic events. For me, the most unusual was from Marilyn Monroe, who taped a handwritten note to her stomach before having her appendix out, begging her doctor to "cut as little as possible." I also got caught up in the World War II letters from a Japanese American wife housed in a separate internment camp from her husband. This is a fascinating way to see America through its cultural and political changes and observe the changing roles of women.

A social history shaped through the correspondence of women
Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler, the powerhouse couple behind LETTERS OF THE CENTURY --- and now WOMEN'S LETTERS --- make history both accessible and captivating, presenting it in the format of correspondences written throughout our nation's history. With this epistolary approach Grunwald and Adler illuminate the events that molded and defined America.
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Subjects:  1. Correspondence    2. History    3. Letters    4. Letters And Correspondence    5. Literary Collections    6. Literature: Classics    7. Pictorial works    8. Sociology    9. Sources    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Women    13. Women In The U.S.    14. Women's Studies - General    15. Women's Studies - History    16. Literary Criticism & Collections / Letters   

Reviews (1)

Good seller
Recieved book promptly, and in excellent condition.Would buy from them again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: American    5. United States - General    6. American history    7. American studies    8. USA   

Reviews (128)

Good research, disjointed storytelling
This book covers a lot of ground and Barry has done some great research.What Barry does not do is maintain a consistently engaging narrative. As others have noted, the book could have used some judicious editing.It probably could have lost 100 pages in my view.
Four Books in One But Everyone Should Know This
There are essentially four separate threads in this book:
A Story that Needs to be Told
A Story that Needs to be Told
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. History    3. History: American    4. Infectious Diseases    5. Influenza Epidemic, 1918-1919    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Medicine    8. Modern - 20th Century    9. U.S. History - Early 20th Century    10. United States    11. United States - 20th Century    12. History / Modern / 20th Century    13. Medical   

Reviews (13)

Always learning something new
Even though I had believed that I knew at least a bit about all aspects of the American Revolution, this book caught me by surprise. I had never known anything about the British and their freedom offer to the slaves of American rebels. This exciting story spends a bit of time on the war itself and the rush to liberty of multitudes of blacks, but the bulk of it is taken up with what happened to the freed slaves when the war was over. There we see that the British government wasn't very much different from the American one, in that it professed its belief in liberty for all, but in practice the ex-slaves were considered second-class citizens, if even that. They were unceremoniuosly dumped into squalor in Nova Scotia, and only the efforts of a few brave Englishmen allowed many of them to be transported to Sierra Leone, there to found a free black society. Even there the people were subjected to being demeaned by the whites who controlled the area. This is a sad morality tale, and it shows up the hypocracy of both the American and British systems of government. This should be required reading for everyone.

A Little Known Story, Well Told
In the Broadway musical 1776 there is a very dramatic scene during the debate over the Declaration of Independence where the representatives from the northern and southern states are arguing over the South's 'peculiar institution.' It became clear that there would be no revolution if slavery had not been maintained.
A new facet of US history
Schama has done a service to us all through this book, which provides a look at how people in the 18th century interpreted the phrase "all men are created equal."The British by and large were far more willing to include blacks in that category than the people of the United States.Slaves who escaped and fought for the British were promised their freedom. Not every promise was kept, but many were. After the war, Schama takes us along with the freed slaves as they are shuttled to Nova Scotia and eventually Sierra Leone, as they demanded and fought for the freedom due to them by virtue of their service in the British army.The text is very well written and footnoted; the author understands that well-told history is told in (true) stories.The book's only miscue is Schama's subtle mocking of the religious fervor of the freed slaves and abolitionists. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1775-1783, Revolution    2. 18th century    3. Africa - West    4. African Americans    5. Blacks    6. England    7. Europe - Great Britain - General    8. General    9. History    10. History - General History    11. History - U.S.    12. History: American    13. Slavery    14. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    15. United States    16. United States - Revolutionary War    17. History / General   

Reviews (4)

The worst book ever
This book is the worst book I ever had since I was born. The author did not do a great job constructing sentences (or should i say did not know how to). His ideas were too vague, his sentences were too confusing and its very impossible to learn and understand American history if one is going to use this book alone, especially if he is not an American who had American history in high school. If you are not American and have no idea of American history and need to use this book, DROP THE COURSE. Its better to drop early than suffer the consequences of failing the course. If there were a -99 rating, I'll give it a -100.

Great book, easy transactio
Fast shippment, no problems, book was exactly as described. Recommend to other buyers and I would definitely do business with them again. Thanks.

Lies, Lies and more lies....
I bought this book because I need it for my His. class. From chap. # 1, I wanted to drop the class JUST BECAUSE THIS TBOOK.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: American    4. Textbooks    5. United States    6. United States - General    7. American history    8. History / General    9. USA   

Editorial Review

Veteran reporter and Read more

Reviews (437)

Painfully bad writing
I was assigned this book as preparation for an A.P. English class, and I was incredibly disappointed with it. Although it features some stirring stories of bravery and compassion (hence the two stars), every word of it is poured over with syrup and then carelessly vomited onto the page. Only about half of the words in this book are necessary at all to the context of the stories it tells; the rest are flag-waving literary masturbation. Consider sentences like these:
good retrospection
Tom Brokaw has wriiten quite a good book using the common men and women as the forces of retrospection. Of course, he only mentions people he knew or came across in the generation, missing out a lot of others.
This brought back memories-good and bad
This was the first book my wife gave me about the war. It started me thinking of all I went through when I was in the war. As an introduction to the generations who weren't there, I think this was super. For us who were there, I am glad to see it documented in such a manner. Thank you for writing this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: American    4. Military - World War II    5. Modern - 20th Century    6. United States - 20th Century    7. History / United States / 20th Century   

Reviews (8)

Very insightful, easy reading, thought provoking resource on cultural norms
This book is an excellent resource for people who are ready and want to learn more about U.S. American cultural norms. This includes people from other countries and people living in the United States (regardless of citizenship). For U.S. Americans, by highlighting U.S. American culture the book also provides insight into other cultures.
Underrated
I don't know why this book has a bad rap here, as I found it easy to read and entertaining as an American wanting to know about unique qualities of my own culture.The author examines a number of aspects of American culture and compares them to other cultures, I couldn't have asked for anything better.Perhaps there are better books on the subject, but this is the first I've read and it was sufficient for my purpose, although I will look into more after this one.
A Good Read!
Gary Althen's richly detailed guide shines a psychological, cultural and sociological spotlight on American customs, values, attitudes and behavior. Organized into 22 chapters that cover just about every aspect of American life, the book hits you with its uncanny insight, accuracy and honesty. Although he doesn't completely avoid stereotyping (and doesn't seem at all bothered by it), Althen presents the good, the bad and the quirky. He explains the "why" behind American attitudes and manners. Even though this is a guide for foreigners visiting, doing business in or living in the United States, we from getAbstract also suggest this book to Americans. It's an eye-opener about the national personality, or the perceived national personality, from na�vete to individualism. As Scotsman Robert Burns wrote, "Oh wad some power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as others see us." Well, here's your chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aliens    2. Guidebooks    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. History - U.S.    5. Intercultural communication    6. Travel    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. Visitors, Foreign    10. Cultural studies    11. USA   

Editorial Review

On September 8, 1900, a massive hurricane slammed into Galveston, Texas. A tidal surge of some four feet in as many seconds inundated the city, while the wind destroyed thousands of buildings. By the time the water and winds subsided, entire streets had disappeared and as many as 10,000 were dead--making this the worst natural disaster in America's history.Read more

Reviews (233)

Hurricanes, other killer storms & reporting on these to the public
Background
" ISAAC'S STORM"
NOT MUCH TO ADD TO THE GREAT REVIEWS I HAVE READ HERE SINCE READING THIS BOOK MYSELF . IF YOU ARE INTRIGUED OR JUST INTERESTED IN MAN AGAINS THE ELEMENTS ( and losing ) THIS IS ONE MORE TO ADD TO YOUR READING MUSTS .
Scary story of destructive weather
Isaac's Storm by Erik Larsen is a compelling read.It's the story of the events leading up to the 1900 hurricane that devastated Galveston, Texas.The time was so different.Today we're starting to see the results of our indiscriminate destruction of the environment in the melting of the polar caps and global warming.In 1900, meteorologists were of the belief that someday they would be able to control the weather, stop hail, start rain, there was nothing they couldn't do.And they hoarded their responsibility and priviledge from any who might disagree.Into this political climate blew a storm that would change not only an entire city, but National Weather Bureau, but especially the people who lived through it.Larsen does an excellent job of building the timeline by focusing on just a few people to tell the tragedy.Occasionally he uses the tired technique of ending a chapter on a cliffhanger to heighten and maintain interest.It's not necessary; the story is powerful enough with cheesy literary devices.My only other complaint about the book is the lack of photographs.While it sounds gruesome, pictures of the city before and after the hurricane would help heighten the story.The Isaac in the title is Isaac Cline, head of the National Weather Bureau at the time who ignored the signs of the city's impending doom and suffered for it personally in many ways.This is a horrible story that still holds lessons for us today. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Earth Sciences - Meteorology & Climatology    3. Floods    4. Galveston    5. Galveston (Tex.)    6. History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: World    9. Hurricanes    10. Natural Disasters    11. Texas    12. United States - 20th Century    13. United States - 20th Century (1900-1945)    14. United States - General    15. United States - State & Local - South    16. History / United States / 20th Century   

Editorial Review

During the three years (1993-1996) Samantha Power spent covering the grisly events in Bosnia and Srebrenica, she became increasingly frustrated with how little the United States was willing to do to counteract the genocide occurring there. After much research, she discovered a pattern: "The United States had never in its history intervened to stop genocide and had in fact rarely even made a point of condemning it as it occurred," she writes in this impressive book. Debunking the notion that U.S. leaders were unaware of the horrors as they were occurring against Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Iraqi Kurds, Rwandan Tutsis, and Bosnians during the past century, Power discusses how much was known and when, and argues that much human suffering could have been alleviated through a greater effort by the U.S. She does not claim that the U.S. alone could have prevented such horrors, but does make a convincing case that even a modest effort would have had significant impact. Based on declassified information, private papers, and interviews with more than 300 American policymakers, Power makes it clear that a lack of political will was the most significant factor for this failure to intervene. Some courageous U.S. leaders did work to combat and call attention to ethnic cleansing as it occurred, but the vast majority of politicians and diplomats ignored the issue, as did the American public, leading Power to note that "no U.S. president has ever suffered politically for his indifference to its occurrence. It is thus no coincidence that genocide rages on." This powerful book is a call to make such indifference a thing of the past. Read more

Reviews (165)

This is an awesome book
In this book Samantha Power focuses on the history of genocide in the 20th Century and the American government's responses in a way that goes beyond simply recounting the horrific details. By juxtaposing these two elements the book lead me to view this ever-current topic - the penchant to kill ethnicities - in a way that left me asking questions I'd never thought to ask before.
A devastating chronicle of 'reasonable' villains and 'unreasonable heroes'
June, 1989. Samantha Power, just finished with her freshman year at Yale, is working at CBS in Atlanta, preparing sports footage for the news. It's a dream job; she loves sports. Then, on the "feed" --- live, unedited footage, broadcast only within the network --- she sees Chinese troops attack students in Tiananmen Square. It's the most shocking thing she's ever seen. And she thinks, "Oh, my God. What am I doing with my life?"
Long read, well worth it!!!!!!!!!
I purchased ''A problem from hell'' in March and took me almost a month to finsh. But it was really worth it! Samantha Power walks us through the major genocides that happened in the past century. From the Killing fields in Cambodia(1975-1979)to the Killing fields in Rwanda(1994),she writes about America's responce to genocides and truth be told, we are inveloped in national self-intrest.She also examines of how the word genocide came to be and the creation of the genocide convention. For anyone who is interrested in foreign policy and human rights (as I am) this book is a must read!!!
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Foreign relations    3. Genocide    4. History    5. History - U.S.    6. History: American    7. Holocaust    8. Political Discontent And Violence    9. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    10. Political History    11. U.S. History - 20th Century (General)    12. United States    13. United States - 20th Century    14. History / Holocaust   

Reviews (1)

THE ULTIMATE US REVIEW
Thanks to this review book, I ended up with a 5! Our AP teacher called this "the review bible" and used this book constantly in class. It's even good for class tests! My friend was failing those until she started reviewing with this book...and her grade improved significantly. The best part of this book is the tests. They ask questions that are definetly comparable to AP level questions, and the best thing is to ALWAYS read the section that explains to you why you are right or wrong on a question. The sample essays are also very helpful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Advanced Placement    2. Study Aids    3. Study Guides    4. Test Prep    5. United States - General    6. Study Aids / Advanced Placement   

Editorial Review

Look again at the title of this book: it's not a question, but a statement. "America is the greatest, freest, and most decent society in existence," writes Dinesh D'Souza. "American life Read more

Reviews (215)

The West vs. the rest
What a surprise.From the title and cover art I was expecting a 4th of July - My country `tis of thee - stand at attention and salute book full of patriotic drivel. But this is a very substantial and thoughtful study of America's institutions and its critics. And the author has a gift for straightforward, easy to understand exposition.
A Perspective on America
Alaister Cooke became famous in Britain via his regular broadcasts termed 'Letter from America", whereby he attempted to explain current events within America to a British audience.
AMERICA FROM AN IMMIGRANTS POINT OF VIEW
This is a smooth, easy and short read. D'souza ideas have a nice and consistant flow to them that makes this a pleasure to read with out making this a war-n-peace dissertation on some of the cultural warfare present in our day.
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Subjects:  1. Civilization, Western    2. General    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History - U.S.    7. History: American    8. National characteristics, American    9. Political History    10. United States - General    11. History / United States / General   

Reviews (20)

Most Important Founding Father - outstanding one-volume edition of his writings!
Thomas Paine was the most consistent and important of all the American Founding Fathers. He consistently spoke up in favor of liberty and freedom; for example, his opposition to the institution of slavery (which he argued was immoral and un-Christian and thought it quite contradictory to claim to be a Christian on the one hand and support slavery on the other hand) - Paine also spoke up in support of women's rights, freedom of thought, the poor, etc.
Timeless inspiration
Thomas Paine, especially in The Age of Reason, did not put forth completely original ideas. Many of his contemporaries had the same critisms that Paine did in regard to organized religion especially Christianity. However, Thomas Paine organized such thoughts in a way that they were accessible to common men. Unfortunately his brave and inspirational work was his downfall. Closeminded and fearful citizens, like RICKITHEREADER in our modern times were frightened that perhaps Paine was tearing a hole the the fabric of their blind faith and because of this, Paines' last work, The Age of Reason, left him to die alone and impoverished. He was abandoned, even by his intellectual contemporaries, most who agreed with him but were not brave enough to voice their beliefs in the common vernacular. I was inspired by Paine who wrote, "My mind is my own church," which was not the voice of an atheist but the voice of a man who really did know the "truth" and his true path. Unlike RickitheReader, I have read both the bible and Paine with an open mind and heart. The joy of reading is the ability to let it lead you to new places. Thomas Paine would have said it better. Read this compilation and it will lead you to new places, wherever your faith is.

Age of Reason
Paine's "Age of Reason" was a mind-blowing revelation for me, so I'll focus mainly on that in this review.Although he has little formal education (fortunately it doesn't require much to know that hearsay, even the printed variety, is not always accurate), Paine is a brilliant independent thinker who advocates critically and intelligently evaluating the Bible. He dismisses the need to insist on divine explanations for what is simply the warlike, violent behavior of a typical tribal society, and shows his unique ability to filter the positive aspects of Biblical teaching (i.e. kindness, mercy, regard for one's neighbors) from the more mythological aspects of it (creationism, the fall of Satan, etc.).
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Subjects:  1. Literature - Classics / Criticism    2. Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809    3. Philosophy    4. Political science    5. United States - Revolutionary War    6. History / United States / General   

Reviews (9)

Understand The Amish As They Really Are
Many readers probably bought this book after visiting an Amish community or seeing a Hollywood movie that triggered their curiosity for a culture and a way of life that seem to defy the passing of time. For most people, it will be the first and also perhaps the last ethnographic study that they read. They couldn't have fallen on a better piece of work. Not only will they learn a wealth of facts about the Amish, their history, their beliefs, and their social organization, but they will also come across a fine scholarly work that makes use of the distin