5 comments about Thirteen Senses: A Memoir.

1. I would suggest reading "Rain of Gold" first as it lays the background for Thirteen Senses and I, personally, thought Rain of Gold was the better story which pointed out the meaning of LOVE in a myriad of ways that was better than most other descriptions I have ever read.

   The weakness of this story is the overuse of the Almighty's powers and Salvador's mother's retelling her philosophy of life page after page after page. If 50 to 75 pages of this type dissertation was edited out, it would be a much better story. The religious nature of both primary familys' is very important to the story, however, it is overdone. While reading I was comparing the American Indian's religious beliefs (which I love) along with the Mexican Indian's outlook. Quite the same in many ways, particularly when actually changing from human to animal form and then back to human. Fascinating.

   I read this book out loud to my wife and she also enjoyed it and would most certainly recommend this being a fine reading experience, however, she also agrees there is too much philosophy given by Dona Guadalupe, Salvador's mother. Her meanderings are important to the story, but you can pass by many paragraphs when she gets too wound up.




2. I think the sequence where Lupe is talking with her mother-in-law an Idigeneous Mexican Indian was very moving. Finished the book on our way to San Francisco were we visited our daughter-in-love" and our son and grandchild. Have been struggleing with the "Thirteenth Sense" all my life, and if I can't make it on a beautiful barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, with my husband of 37 years, there is no hope for the rest of us. Buying the book for Christmas gifts to give all the people who give meaning to my life. Beautifully written and with such sensitivity it makes you want to invite Victor for dinner.



3. I was truly excited to hear Villasenor had written a continuation to Rain of Gold! I could hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of Thirteen Senses, and I'm so happy I did. Rain of Gold did so much to change my perspective on the Mexican experience in this century, and I felt a longing to know what happened to Lupe and Salvadore after their marriage ceremony. This story really came through, showing their growth as a couple along with their individual spiritual growth. This story is about growing into real adulthood and loosing our childish self centeredness. It's about discovering how incredible a person can be, and how far limits can be pushed.



4. Stream of consciousness books like this one are always a risk. So in the end, I liked it. I liked it for the candidness and the luck that seemed to pervade the characters. More than anything though, I like "13 Senses" for the magical realism and the strength of the women. The Bonnie and Clyde "esque" quality lends itself to a recklessness that is the exuberance of youth. Villaseñor's situates the whole book on the extra senses that is almost forgotten by hard core materialists - yes matter precedes all but the senses six through nine. (Ten through thirteen seem to reside in some outer realm) but it is funny. Many will argue that it is short on reason and full of anecdote - yes, but that is the strength of the book not its weakness. My guess is that if we changed that "thing" within ourselves that looks for the clean and neat narrative - we lose all the heavenly glory.
   
   Miguel Llora



5. Started out a little slow, but became one of my favorites by the end. The second time I read it, it was much better. It is definately on the top of my recomindation list.

5 comments about A Life on the Road.

1. The genius of Charles Kuralt--and what makes this book great--is his ability to find insights from the smallest of things, which the rest of us would pass over on the way to more "important" matters. In some ways his life was extraordinary. But in other ways he led a rather conventional life, going from one greased pig competition to the next hoe-down on his rickety bus. He never walked on the moon, or cured a disease, or broke a batting record, or played at Carnegie Hall. But his insights into the simple experiences in life, from a field of wildflowers to the beauty of an autumn day, make A Life On The Road a book to cherish, and return to again and again. I can't recommend this book enough. America lost a true artist when Mr. Kuralt died. He probably never would have been so presumptuous to claim the title for himself, but that's what he was.



2. Kuralt has a wonderful sense of humor. His wit shines through in every page of this book as he tells stories of Americana and his experiences while covering the news in Cuba, South America, Russia... His simple and descriptive style of writing flows by fast and I could vividly imagine his experiences. What were these experiences? Pick up the book. Suffice to say it spans from the story of a simple brick layer he met in rural america to a proud, grumpy soviet ex-pow who had been waiting 40 years to send a message to an old friend in America.

   I put this book down with a great faith in humanity and a deep admiration for Charles Kuralt. He leaves you feeling that this world is filled with thousands and thousands of remarkable stories that are waiting to be discovered and that life is full of opportunities around every corner.




3. This 316 pages of America isn't the America of the media or of Hollywood or of the headlines of shootings and money-grubbing, cheating and robbing, but of the REAL America. Of honest people and real places, of pride and honor and values that really count.

   Here you'll meet the men who built the Golden Gate Bridge and a doctor who charges whatever his patients can afford. You'll learn about a woman who spends every day of her life cooking and feeding her neighbors because she wants to be a friend to man. These are the true nobility of our country, the real success stories of lives worthy of note and respect. In comparison to these, Bill Gates, Lee Iacocca, Ted Turner pale in significance.

   These are lives fully lived, the promise of the individuals completely realized. They are the human evidence of what happens when a person does unto others as they would have others do unto themselves.

   Sunnye Tiedemann (aka Ruth F. Tiedemann)




4. I once heard Dan Rather on TV talking about his late friend Charles. He admired his uncanny ability to describe everyday experiences of common Americans and make them stand out in a positive way. Rather talked about how Charles went against the grain of network television, when networks were consciously "dumbing down," Charles was trying to appeal to Americans who had read at least one book per month. He had faith in the intellectual capacity of citizens and their ability to help democracy.
   
   This book contains wonderful stories, crafted only in a way Charles could. He saw the everyday heroes in the USA, the heroes who didn't make the headlines, but who mattered a lot in the hearts and minds of many. Charles was trying to be a bright light in a sometimes dark world, and he succeeded.
   
   Give this book as a Christmas present to any friend who truly cares about his country and who is tired of the partisanship that is tearing the nation apart. To call the stories in this book "refreshing" is an extreme understatement.
   
   Jeffrey McAndrew
   author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy



5. I enjoyed this book. I remember seeing his show in the last few years it was on. The stories about the show are very inspiring.

5 comments about Pour Your Heart Into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time.

1. This is not a business book, it is the history of a company. Howard Schultz recounts the early years of Starbucks diving into the rich tale of how a small coffee roasting company quickly became a world-wide brand recognized for quality, service and responsibility. Filled with interesting details about Schultz's journey to the original Starbucks (roasting and selling beans only), to Il Giornale (Schultz's first attempt at recreating an Italian espresso bar in America) and finally to the Starbucks we now know, placing both elements together, "Pour Your Heart Into It," gives us a glimpse into the restless journey of an entrepreneur.
   
   Schultz goes into detail explaining the challenges behind creating not only a product, but a market. In the early years, the coffee shop boom had not yet occurred in America meaning part of Starbucks mission had to become educating potential customers on the joys of high-quality coffee. Setting out to build a great brand was secondary to Schultz who's first aim was to build a great company.
   
   "When I looked back, I realized we had fashioned a brand in a way no business-school textbook could have ever prescribed. We built the Starbucks brand first with our people, not with consumers-the opposite approach from that of the crackers-and-cereal companies. Because we believed the best way to meet and exceed the expectations of the customers was to hire and train great people, we invested in employees who were zealous about good coffee." - pg. 245
   
   All of us need a break from the bullet-format, bumper sticker business books that permeate the bestseller charts these days...something that will bring us back to why we even do business in the first place. This is that book. No catchy phrases or lists, just a story of how a few guys with a love for coffee decided to help the world catch their heart.



2. "If you pour your heart into your work, or into any worthy enterprise, you can achieve dreams others may think impossible." ~ Howard Schultz
   
   When Howard Schultz found Starbucks he had a dream of all Starbucks could be. After bringing back ideas from Milan he planned to infuse the company with a new energy. Instead of only selling coffee beans he wanted to open stores that sold espresso. When the owners of Starbucks didn't have the same vision, he opened up his own stores and then purchased Starbucks. The story is compelling and this book is one of the most exciting books on business I've ever read.
   
   "Without the romance of Italian espresso, Starbucks would still be what it was, a beloved local coffee bean store in Seattle." ~ pg. 53
   
   This book explains why franchising is a forbidden word at Starbucks. It also explains how special packaging had to be made to keep the coffee fresh. Stock options and an impressive health-care package also make working for Starbucks a positive experience.
   
   While Howard Schultz's own story is woven into the pages, this book is mostly about the positive steps that were taken to make Starbucks a success. This book will appeal to anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.
   
   My own experience with Starbucks has been very positive. Once a reporter talked to me on the phone while he was at a Starbucks. My family loves buying Starbucks gift cards and we always make time to go to a Starbucks whenever we get together. It is like a family tradition. Yesterday I was at my local Starbucks drinking a tall chai tea and discovered they had the most delicious vanilla scones with icing. The girl at the counter told me she thought they tasted like sugar cookies and I must agree.
   
   If you are looking for another book about Starbucks, I can
   recommend: Starbucks Passion for Coffee
   
   ~The Rebecca Review
   
   P.S. The proceeds from this book go to the Starbucks Foundation to support literacy programs.



3. I read many company books. This is one of the gems. Howard did a fantastic job in writing the history of Starbucks, its root, its spirit, and its amazing achievement.
   
   There have been many coffee vendors. Starbucks sprinted from the pack. It actually revolutionized the coffee industry. While the business world has been looking for the next new hi-tech inventions, Howard creatively rejuvenated the coffee drinks by relentlessly pursuing the quality the culture and the experience. He did the mission-impossible in such a traditional industry. After reading this book, you will never look at Starbucks the same way. Yes, you realize that passion and quality can make a huge difference in this crowded world.



4. I found this book extremely interesting from a business perspective. Would recommend this book to anyone who is starting a business or has an interest in finance. Very inspirational



5. I highly recommend this book to all new entrepreneurs and those interested in learning how successful companies are formed. I also know there are alot of people out there who hate Starbucks simply because it exists and succeeded- I challenge you to read this book. The business was created from the ground up by passion and perseverence, and it deserved to succeed, and I hope it continues to succeed for a very long time.

5 comments about No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, The Home Front in World War II.

1. Another tour de force by Goodwin. Like her "Team of Rivals", this book is a fascinating, compelling account of a fascinating, compelling period in our history. Kearns relates in great detail the many forces and waves that buffeted the American people as they geared up to face the immense challenge facing them and the Allies. I was a child then and remember a few things, especially the tension showed by the adults -- tensions I didn't understand. This book bears testament to the greatness -- the flawed greatness -- of FDR. His pragmatism and his ability to inspire his countrymen were invaluable tools as he strove to marshal a nation that was totally unprepared for war. What was surprising to me was Eleanor Roosevelt. Kearns paints her, warts and all, and the warts were plentiful. The impression I get of Eleanor was that she was a fierce liberal who saw the war not as an existential challenge to her country, but as an rare opportunity to get in place her extreme liberal agenda. I really don't think she saw the war as her husband did. She did a lot of good, particularly in helping eliminate racial barriers. But she hated corporations -- the very companies that made it possible for our nation to go to war with the resources they needed, especially petroleum. She tended to be blinded by her leftwing ideology and simply didn't understand or care about whether or not the private sector had the incentives to make the massive changes that turned us into the Arsenal of Democracy. FDR got it; Eleanor didn't. Also, this book reveals the very human side of its protagonists, especially the very strange relationship between the president and the first lady. Well, I could go on, but suffice it to say that this is a very profound book which reveals the tenor of one of the most challenging times in our history. If you're a Baby Boomer, especially if you have never studied much about the WWII homefront, you absolutely have to read this book. The times it chronicles are the foundation upon which the modern America is built. Kudos to Kearns Goodman for an outstanding piece of work.



2. Whatever the academic infractions allegedly committed by Ms. Goodwin in writing this book were, she has produced an excellent work that lays bare in detail the workings of FDR's White House during the Second World War from May 1940 onward when Nazi Germany ended the phony war and stampeded over France and Europe to the doorstep of Britain before turning on Soviet Russia. This is a story that in general terms most literate persons know or should know and it is precisely this legacy, not Ms. Goodwin's academic credentials, that sardonic critics of this work and its author seek to disparage. When read in conjunction with Steve Neal's excellent monograph on Wendell Willkie or similar works, a vivid picture of this historical period and its life and death issues for the future of humanity emerge in the context of a distinct theme: that the prospect of an imminent victory of Nazi Germany and fascism in the late 30s and early 40s was viewed with complacency, not by the epochal FDR and "liberals", but by a wide section of conservatives and the "America First" leaning right wing, including all the principal Republican Presidential candidates in 1940 (except for maverick Willkie), whose conciliation of fascism, as in the post-war era in Latin America, was consistent with their deep hostility to FDR and the "socialism" of the New Deal from which they sought to return to the good old days of the laissez-faire capitalism of the Gilded Age in which obstacles to their unrestrained profits like the graduated income tax, social security and labor unions were eliminated.



3. Rarely does an excellent writer appear in the biography universe. Goodwin uses her amazing skills to weave the story of two remarkable and very human people into and through a momentous time in the world's history. While she sometimes gets slowed down by statistics of limited value (for example how many rubber bands were collected in rubber drive) overall the writer has found a brilliant balance between facts, feelings and remembrances. The book's main revelations center mainly on the enormous contribution ER made to race relations and labor relations during that desperate time. One comes to feel that if not for FDR's hyperactive, agitating wife little or no social progress would have been made during the war years. I have read several biographies of FDR and Churchill and was still enriched by the layers of detail Goodwin has brought to her work, highly recommended.



4. If you enjoy history, this book is a must read. Doris Kearns Goodwin makes history interesting. Many of the programs that were instituted during the depression are still in effect today. The Roosevelt's were an amazing team, Eleanor paved the way for many women in politics and business. It's the perfect book to read in our current economic situation.



5. I know another five star rating. But She deserves it. Doris Kearns Goodwin's best book. I felt as if I was living their lives through the words of Mrs. Goodwin.
   The very essence of this marriage made a story which is better than any fiction novel. The formative years of both Franklin and Eleanor's lives tells us of the impending marriage of convenience. The starting of a family, along with the tragedy of the death of one of their offspring, tells us of their early life together. The later relationship with Lucy Mercer exposes us to an altered marriage in which Eleanor becomes a truly effective politician in her own right who in turn effected national policy.
   Mrs. Goodwin should be commmended for this truly human account of the Franklin Roosevelt period. Her writing was accurate yet highly entertaining. I learned a lot of this Brahman Family. Winston Churchill understood this family as no one else did. It wasn't until Mrs. Goodwin explained this period of extraordinary American History that I really understood the effect of their lives on the American public. Read this Book!!!!!

5 comments about The F Word.

1. I found this book to be a very good positive approach to handling family problems. Louie emphasizes being tolerant of family members and not being mean. I've used this technique quite often and found it to be more successful than being rude and mean. I've always had the ability to see humor in the worst situation, infact I laugh quite a bit at my family dilemma, even though it's really not that funny. I remember times when others have said, "you think everything is funny," I responded, "no not really, but it's better than the negative alternative, which is right out anger and hostility. Anything is better than taking the mean hostile route, the road to disaster. I'd rather laugh it out or simply leave before my coping ability expires. Louie suggests using this technique also, if you only have an hours worth of coping ability, don't try to stay the whole three hours of an affair and end up fighting. I appreciated the humor in Louie's book as well as his advice. Everyone should read this book whether they have family problems or not.



2. I've been a long time Louie Anderson fan and regard his first two books, "Dear Dad: Letters From an Adult child" and "Goodbye Jumbo...Hello Cruel World," two of the best books I've ever read. So I was naturally excited to hear he was writing a third book. In "The F Word," Louie tackles his relationship with his dysfunctional family, which has been strained by his fame and wealth (they resent him and/or expect him to help support them). He uses examples from his own family interactions to offer tips to others on how to deal with their dysfunctional family relationships. His advice is often too personal or oversimplified to be of good therapeutic use. However, Louie has an amazing ability to draw the reader into his life. Reading his books, I no longer feel like a fan. I feel like a friend. He does an amazing job of describing the unique personality traits of each of his 10 siblings and the problems they battle. Collectively, they have all been impacted in some way by their (deceased) alcoholic, abusive father. This book does offer some good down to earth advice and proves that everybody has problems that they struggle with and demons they battle, even celebrities. Overall, I found it to be a rewarding book, just somewhat less so than his previous books.



3. I really applaud and admire the work that Anderson has given us within this book
   
   The material that Anderson shares with us includes so much of his personal guilt, regret, and sadness
   
   However, he manages to share it in a way that is constructive, humorous, and easy to digest ---- he makes it easy to see the screw-ups we've made in our own lives, and helps to suggest ways of alievation, through his own narration
   
   Reading this book is almost an exercise in forgivness yourself ---- forgiving those around you and forgiving YOURSELF
   
   And best of all - it is all told in Anderson's classic humor - making this all very easy to digest
   
   Although the book is good, I truly recommend the audio version --- Anderson's narration is a perfect complement to a well done book
   
   thank you for reading!



4. Even before I picked up this book, I knew I was going to hate it. I mean look at the cover, a fat man with a depressing no-food frown. I then read the book but to no surprise it was a recipes to louie anderson's favorite meal. It wasn't even a recipe it was just "jar of lard." Then I started the book and i almost threw up. The first chapter is "how I swallowed my cat." I didn't read it for a few days then I dove back in for seconds. There wasn't even a second chapter it was just ripped and torn papers like louie was so bored of his own book he started to eat it. I guess you're wondering if this whole book is about louie's eating and misadventours while eating and the answer is yes. Louie once tried to swallow a bald guy's head because he thought it was a watermelon. How do you reddeem yourself after writing a book about that? How did this incolherent mess wind up published? Who Knows? Towards the end it talks about Louie on the "Family Feud." From his drug addictions to his submarine sandwitch cravings this chapter tells all. Sound like a book you want to read?
   
   PS: At the beginning it says "This book is deticated to my ham, my succulent, slow roasted..." I couldn't read the rests it was too wet from the drool stains.



5. For anyone who comes from a dysfunctional family (who doesn't out there... I'd love to meet you) this book will inspire you to rise above your childhood circumstances and be a better person. Whether you were the victim of child abuse, an alcoholic or mentally deranged parent, or suffered through the pain of obesity, (all of the above in my case) this book is for you. It's not therapy, but it's almost as good. Thanks Louie!

5 comments about Albatross.

1. ALBATROSS is a gripping story of survival and agonizing death at sea--the sinking with the loss of three lives of the yacht TRASHMAN off the Carolina coast. The author pulls no punches and tells a tale of human suffering, weakness, and malice that left this reader shaken by its bluntness, realism, and intensity.

   The story is told in a direct and clear manner that inescapably draws one in to its nightmarish hell. Besides a sea story it is also a story of a young person's stuggle with her own demons.

   Why read such a painful book? One important life lesson that we must learn from this account is not to leave port unprepared. In some ways, I would urge all boaters to read this book just to have that lesson hammered in. As a boater I came away with the deep conviction that I don't ever want to come anywhere near going through anything like what the crew of TRASHMAN went through.

   As presented by the author, the tragedy was entirely the result of the incompetence, alcoholism, and carelessness of the captain and other crew members. I must confess, however, that when I reflected on the author's tale I could not help wondering how objective it was. She is so unremittingly critical--bitterly critical--of John and Mark that I began to doubt the clarity of her vision. I would love to get the account of the other survivor. There are several mysteries about the tragic sinking of TRASHMAN that remain troubling and unresolved.

   Nevertheless Debby's tale is one that will move in and rearrange your mental furniture, especially if you are a boater or have ever been to sea in a small boat.




2. Heard ALBATROSS: THE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN'S SURVIVAL AT SEA by Deborah Scaling Kiley and Meg Noonan . . . it is the tragic tale of what was supposed to be a simple boat trip that wound up as a nightmare . . . several of the crew members perished; what was more interesting to me was the story of how the survivors made it.
   
   I've read other "how I survived at sea" books before . . . this was the first one, though, that I've come across written by a woman . . . what I'll remember: when your instincts tell you something, listen . . . Scaling Kiley, unfortunately, did not.
   
   I liked her special introduction at the beginning of the cassette tapes . . . I also liked the work of Karen Allen--a talented actress that I don't see nearly enough--who did an excellent job with the narration.



3. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I had seen Deborah and Brad's story on "I Shouldn't Be Alive" series, where they showed re-enactments and now and then broke away to the two actual survivors telling their story. I just knew she had written about this, so I looked it up on Amazon.
   
   The story is told in very colorful prose. I could hear the sailboat slicing through the water, could see the pewter waves and dark sky. I could almost feel the sharks bumping the underside of the rubber raft with their rough skin.
   
   Debbie is brutally honest, which adds to the credibility and interest of her story. She opens up and really lets us into her ordeal, and adds extra bits of information and impressions, like when she had her head under water looking for sharks and saw the beauty of the school of doradoes. So descriptive, I could see it.
   
   This is also a story of triumph, as Debbie deals with strong emotions in the months and years after the tragedy. I'm glad she pulled through it all and wrote the book. I recommend this book for teens as well as adults.



4. I received this book today and have read it in one sitting, just couldn't put it down. It is both a fasinating and horrific true story of this womans fight for survival in the open seas. It is written in an easy to follow style. Definately worth the read!!



5. I first saw this story on the discovery channel and could not wait to read the book.
   I was so glad to find a copy on Amazon.
   This story is true and very sad you will feel as if you are in that raft with Debbie and Brad they were lost at sea for about 5 days and had to fight off sharks and stay alive. It started out with 5 John Mark Meg Debbie and Brad.
   only Debbie and Brad made it. This book will keep you reading well into the night to finish.
   It is a great read!

5 comments about ALL'S FAIR LOVE WAR AND RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT: "Love, War and Running for President".

1. Even though the Clinton vs. Bush campaign was 12 years ago, this book is well worth a re-visit. The book is relatively long but I found every page of high interest.
   
   Mary Matalin's sections on the Bush re-election were wonderful reading and I am an avowed liberal. She perfectly captured the patrician nobility of Bush Senior and the campaign that destroyed itself. From the disasterous reign of John Sununu as Chief of Staff, the tragic death of Lee Atwater, the paralysis of Margaret Tutwiler, the insanity of Ross Perot, the mean-spiritedness of Patrick Buchanan, the shrill defeatism of Rich Bonds, and the often confused and muddled voice of an out of touch President, George Bush, the characters are vividly drawn and almost sympathetic.
   
   Carville on the other hand is masterful in his analysis of the consciousness of the American Everyman. The strength of Carville's strategy is common sense played offensively. He respects the middle class American sense of irony and skepticism trying to move toward optimism and problem solving.
   
   Even though the book is 478 pages long, it is really a fast read. Both Matalin and Carville are witty, strategic professionals with years of experience. I didn't get the book to read a sappy love story and I was glad the book focused on the considerable professional experiences of this couple rather than on their fledgling romance.
   
   Carville's desciptions of Bill Clinton do the man justice as a flawed but brilliant leader. Matalin's desciptions of George Bush do the man justice as a man who believes his class, gender, and race was destined for leadership but he just can't navigate the reality of the average American experience.
   
   Where both Matalin and Carville converge is in their perspectives on Patrick Buchanan, a mean hateful old man, and Ross Perot, a crazy old man.
   
   Besides a blow by blow detailed story of the Clinton vs. Bush campaigns from beginning to end, the book is full of political wisdom and strategy.



2. I know that this is the first book I have ever read with two senior people on the opposite sides of a presidential campaign combining on one book. As far as I know this might be the only one out there like it. Just the fact that both sides of the total campaign were discussed point by point would be enough to give this book a high rating, but these two authors (and probably the added professional writer) helped to make this book a very entertaining read. The authors struck the right balance between the exciting blow by blow of the campaign and the day to day decisions that most people would find dull. It was just so interesting reading both sides of each issue as it came up in the race. Reading how each side perceived a situation and then reacted gave the reader a rich understanding of how the campaign played out.
   
   The one area that I found a bit annoying was the rabid partisanship of Mary Matalin. I actually thought that James Carville would be the rip it up partisan trash talker that was going to spell out the red meat attack on every issue. Now I tend to lean a little left so I at first thought it was just my liberal sensitivities getting a bit out of joint, but the more I read and tried to be fair I really got a negative view of Matalin. It is one thing to attack Clinton, heck stand in line, but the over blown attacks on average Democrats was a bit much. It just made me doubt much of what she said when balance was required and it eliminated any sympathy I should have had for her being she was on the losing side.
   
   Another area I found interesting was how much she truly respected and adored President Bush. Now this might be a symptom of any campaign worker, but make no mistake about it, Mary held her love for the candidate front and center. With this being said it is understandable that she would take the loss hard and find some avenues to place a little blame, but her dislike of the press was only surpassed by Bill Clinton himself. Every bad decision or misstep on her side was somehow laid at the feet of the press for simply reporting the event. If Clinton was leading in the polls then Matalin made the claim the press was favoring Clinton. It got to be so pervasive that it took on the appearance of the town drunk arguing that he does not have a drinking problem. It might have been an underling factor as to why the Bush team did not pull it out at the end. Overall I really liked the book and if you are a political junkie then so will you.



3. Ever since I saw the documentary "The War Room," I have been a huge fan of James Carville's. It also helps that I am a big liberal Democrat. However, for the longest time I did not know that he was married to Mary Matalin, a longtime top Republican strategist. I also was unaware of the fact that they were more or less opposite numbers in the 1992 campaign, when Carville worked for Bill Clinton, and Matalin for President George H.W. Bush.
   
   This book shows the inner workings and machinations of both the Clinton and Bush campaigns in 1992, from the viewpoints of Carville and Matalin respectively.
   
   The book is written in turn; first Carville tells a little of what was happening in the Clinton camp, then Matalin offers the contemporary perspective of the Bush camp. This style works really well. At some points it develops into quasi-conversation, as if they were speaking to each other. There is ample room for the airing of their own personal views of what was going on as well.
   
   There were two overriding themes in the book: the way Carville ran Clinton's operation, best known as The War Room, clearly changed the way political campaigns are conducted in this nation, and, partially because of the innovations of The War Room the Bush effort was off its game big-time. At times it was amazing to see the sheer ineptitude of the Bush campaign, such as when Mary Matalin describes how the White House and the Bush campaign were unwilling or unable to effectively coordinate their activities until the Republican convention.
   
   There is also a lot of discussion of how the media, especially television and newspapers, influence the way a campaign is run these days. Predictably, there is a healthy amount of negativity expressed toward the press, especially Matalin's railing at the so-called liberal media, even though Carville makes some good arguments that Clinton was not receiving the best coverage, either.
   
   A must-have for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of political campaigns, especially for people who want to get involved in the higher operations of politics.



4. I can boast of having a copy of this book kindly sent to me by James Carville when it was first published. It's no exaggeration to say it's amongst my most treasured possessions.
   
   There's no denying that James brought the role of the politial consultant into the public eye. Sure, there had been people like Roger Ailes before him, but they'd tended to be shadowy figures, working behind the scenes and known only to political insiders. Carville started the cult of consultant-as-celebrity and his relationship with Matalin - an equally intelligent, equally interesting, but naturally less ebullient figure - whilst both were working for opposing Presidential campaigns catapaulted them both into the public mind.
   
   Perhaps because it was written at the time, the book doesn't have much to say on the subject of consultant-as-celebrity. Of course it was written pre-Stephanopolous / Morris / Rove et al, but it'd be interesting if Carville and Matalin re-issued the book with an epilogue. I for one would like to read their reflections on the trend.
   
   Without Carville and Matalin it's doubtful there'd have been as much focus on the role and influence of Morris and Rove, for instance. Certainly the film "He said, She said" would probably not have been made. Perhaps even "Wag the Dog" mightn't have got off the ground. But have things gone too far when a series like "K Street" makes consultants and politicians players in an imaginary drama?
   
   But for an insight into the Clinton years that's less about the personal and more the political, this is an excellent, lively read. In many ways it comes closer than James's other books to giving an insight into the campaign techniques that made both Carville and Matalin the most successful consultants of their day, as it charts their day-by-day activities.
   
   A cross between campaign diary, a love story and a political how-to manual probably wouldn't work with anyone but the authors at its center. But with Carville and Matalin, it serves to provide a unique way of looking into the inner workings of two Presidential campaigns.
   
   There's probably no other book quite like it - certainly all that comes to mind is Joe McGinniss's "The selling of the President" - for mixing personal observations with professional insight in the midst of a high level political campaign.
   
   It's a book well worth adding to your library, whether you're a political junkie or a romance reader.



5. The love affair of the Ragin'Cajun and the hippie-turned-conservative, the election of '92 with him running Clinton's campaign and she stumping for Bush sr., a cast of thousands; and it reads like a novel.
   
   Wonderful insider view of politics, told in alternate blocks by the two, with writer Peter Knobler keeping the flavor of each's speaking style. Amazingly the pair was able to keep their work out of their personal life, marrying a year later with a jazz band procession through New Orleans's French quarter, naming their first daughter Matalin Mary, called Matty to acknowledge Mary's stature). Intimate looks at the candidates, with James's high regard for Hilary, Mary seeing Bush sr. as warm and personable.
   
   A must-read in this election year!

5 comments about The Politics of Diplomacy.

1. Soon after becoming secretary of state, George P. Shultz noted that ý unless you do something about it, in the job of secretary of state you will spend 100 percent of your time on the Middle East. ý ýEvery Secretary of State becomes a Middle East expert very rapidly, whether he wants to or not,ý he also stated. . These observations remain valid today, when Warren Christopher has virtually become Secretary of State for the Middle East. Baker had a similar experience. Page one of his memoirs tells of Saddam Husaynýs invasion of Kuwait, the single most dangerous moment of Bakerýs three-years-plus as secretary of state. Of the bookýs thirty-four chapters, fully fifteen concentrate on the Middle East, primarily the Kuwait war and the Arab-Israeli peace process.

   Famously discreet when in office, Baker unbuttons a bit in the retelling. He captures the atmosphere of his endless travels (he went to sleep on the eve of his Geneva meeting with Tariq ýAziz, just before the outbreak of hostilities, as the ýchants from antiwar protesters echoed quietly up to our block of roomsý) and the vagaries of dealing with Middle Eastern leaders (Asad treated his complaints about Syrian terrorism ýthe way one might react to an eccentric uncle at family gatheringsýas an unavoidable nuisance to be endured politelyý). Baker also provides some new information; for example, in March 1991, he raised to Yitzhak Shamir the possibility of stationing U.S. troops on the Golan Heights.

   Middle East Quarterly, June 1996




2. Baker's memoir is open and honest. He has put together an excellent narrative analysis of the foreign policy of the Bush administration. In years to come the usefulness of this book will probably decline as more scholarly work appears, but Baker's story continues to be charming and detailed.



3. Though I read this book in 1995, after reading Colin Powell's "My American Journey," and Storming Norman's memoir, it was nice to pick it up again, eleven years later.
   
   This is a communications book. And what can be more challenging than to influence entire countries, and even ancient adversaries to take even the most measured risks for peace?
   
   In this memoir, Baker shows readers how he uses the three questions below to prepare for his proposed ideas:
   
   1. Will we be able to build a domestic consensus in support of
   it?
   2. What kind of political reaction will it create in the
   capitals of our adversaries and allies?
   3. How will it change the nature of our political relations,
   internationally?
   
   Before communicating his proposal to the country or group that he needs to convince, Baker would "leak his ideals to the press" and to some other powerful sources, to get public reaction.
   
   And, though this book is 672 pages, the factual information is presented in a light way through a great deal of down home humor, such as those in the quotes below:
   
   "If the horse of the team don't move at the same speed, there'll be an accident," Francois Mitterand
   
   "Allowing the two Germanies to work things out on their own in that kind of situation was, in my view, a recipe for a train wreck." James Baker (Referring to the unification)
   
   "There's no end to what a man can accomplish if he doesn't care who gets the credit." Ronald Reagan
   
   "What comes through is that the Soviets don't know how to square the circle. They're wrestling with it." Eduard Shevardnadze
   
   "If a bullfrog had wings, it wouldn't scrape it's [a..s] on the ground." (James Baker sparring with Assad, in Damascus)
   
   "If the dog hadn't stopped running, he wouldn't have caught the rabbit." (James Baker still trying to get Assad back to reality)
   
   "The higher the monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind." (Meaning the bigger impact the decision, potentially has the more on will look at details. This could also mean that the more powerful your position is, the more you will be scrutinized)
   
   "Now it was yes or my dead cat." James Baker (meaning yes or you will be blamed, if you don't agree)
   
   This is a great source for negotiations, corporate politics, history, and Sociolinguistics.



4. I guess I am the scrooge of the reviewers of The Politics of Diplomacy by James A. Baker III.
   
   Given the positive things I have read about Secretary James Baker, I expected this book to be interesting, insightful and educational. I found the book to be as interesting as reading a phone book, with sentences aggrandizing Secretary Baker thrown in along the way.
   
   I can't believe that in his 12 years of high-level public service for Presidents Reagan and Bush, that Mr. James Baker was consistently the most crafty, astute, worldly and knowledgeable of the leaders of the world, which is the impression I was left with after reading this book.
   
   I did find one interesting tidbit in the book, however, which was that from the time George H. W. Bush was President Reagan's Vice President, Vice President Bush wanted to overthrow President Noriega of Panama.
   
   After he was elected President in 1988, President Bush had the opportunity to overthrow President Noriega, which he appeared to do by mishandling negotiations with President Noriega and provoking President Noriega into a belligerent state. This example of toppling a sovereign state for personal, rather than national interest, reasons was copied by President George H. W. Bush's son, the current President Bush, who seemed to follow the same playbook with Iraq with different results, sadly.
   
   I haven't yet given up on Secretary James Baker; I plan to read his new book, Work Hard, Study...and Keep Out of Politics! Adventures and Lessons from an Unexpected Public Life. I hope the book contains some insights about Mr. Baker's decision-making as well as insights about other personalities he met along the way. If the book is 480 pages of self-aggrandizement, I may have to reach for the Alka-Seltzer to keep my dinner from spilling out onto the floor.



5. The book is great, but this one line is worth its weight in gold for those who wonder why we spend $30 billion a yeear on diplomacy, $900 billion a year waging war, $60 billion a year on spies, and less than $600 million on open sources of information in 183 languages we don't speak:
   
   "in terms of fine-turning our own work, staying abreast of the press comments was particularly important."
   
   page 54.
   
   See also:Art of Diplomacy: The American Experience
   Preparing America's Foreign Policy for the 21st Century
   The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People
   The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (The American Empire Project)
   Vice: Dick Cheney and the Hijacking of the American Presidency
   Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It
   The Eagle's Shadow: Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World
   Why the Rest Hates the West: Understanding the Roots of Global Rage
   High Noon 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve Them

5 comments about Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt.

1. The two readers for this meticulously researched biography of Theodore Roosevelt add appeal, especially when reading the parts with the southern lady or Irish accents. Well done!



2. This book is an excellent history material. For those who are studying or are just interested in American history, this a great secondary source that brings Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. to life. The style Mr. David McCullough uses is very easy to understand, and it is also very descriptive in nature which makes readers feel they were present at the scene. The only weakness is that the book limits T.R.'s life to a 19 year period, which happens before his greatest achievements. Basically, the author leaves you wanting more...
   Great choice of biography, great author, and accessable price!
   F.C, GA



3. David McCullough's writing is superb. I have to admit I liked Thedore Roosevelt better as a person in Theodore Rex. His personal correspondence in this book reveals too much about his apparent enjoyment in killing animals for my taste. IMO his image as a conservationist is tarnished by the joy he took in killing. I was especially offended by his shooting the neighbor's dog when riding his horse. If I had lived back then and he shot my dog, I can safely say it would have been the last dog he ever shot and his departure from life would have been made slow and painful...
   
   But that dislike of his joy of killing aside, he and his family were extraordinary. One cannot change history, so I go with the flow to learn more about it and the people in it...



4. I was really expecting more TR info in this book... a little more than I needed to know about his family and acquaintances and not enough about the man himself.



5. David McCullough makes Teddy Roosevelt a very dull character and this book is very slow. I stopped reading half was through.
   
   I am a big fan of David's but this book is a stinker.

5 comments about I Had a Hammer: The Hank Aaron Story.

1. In this baseball season where my favorite team is floundering in the cellar, and every good story(compelling divisional races) is counterbalanced by the bad (steroids), I have been trying to maintain interest by re-reading some baseball books that I have read over the years. After re-reading "I Had A Hammer", I remember why it remains one of the best biographies/autobiographies that I have ever read.
   
   The sports genre in books is much harder than one would think to keep up interest in. There are very few gems in any sporting subject; mostly it's very mediocre to terribly vapid. Usually a fan becomes disappointed in their sports "heroes" when they read a biography about them, because the writing can be so bad. Fortunately, for a ballplayer as great as Hank Aaron, the work lives up to the character and legend of the man.
   
   Mr. Aaron does a splendid job of taking the reader through his life in Alabama, his discovering the game of baseball, and - of course - his remarkable career. His writing style provides enough description to allow the reader to get a true mental "picture" of what his life was like without getting bogged down in minutiae. Throughout the book, I had the feeling like I really was there watching his career unfold.
   
   Of course, that brings us to the real core - and most important part - of his life story. That is, what Mr. Aaron experienced as he neared and eclipsed Babe Ruth's home run record. Most celebrities or sports figures would relate this in that sensational, "woe-is-me", tabloid-tell-all sort of way. Not Mr. Aaron. He shares many of the truly hateful and despicable letters he received from people across the nation who saw the idea of an African-American breaking the record of a white man as egregious. Mr. Aaron relates how this inundation of hate mail affected him, but he manages to avoid expressing any hate towards the senders of those letters. One obviously gets the sense that Mr. Aaron steeled himself against those attacks with grace and dignity, allowing himself to still play the game the way it was supposed to be played, and to do it with class and personal enjoyment.
   
   It is striking to return to Mr. Aaron's autobiography after the events in baseball over the past decade. We as a fan base in general express outrage over the strike, the steroids (and questions about those players that broke records), outrageous salaries, and the like. It seems to always elicit a response demanding a return to the "innocence" of baseball seasons and players gone by. However, Mr. Aaron's experience demonstrates that there was controversy in almost every era of the game. In his case, it was a despicable form of racial hatred expressed by a very vocal minority in this country.
   
   Again, "I Had A Hammer" stands out as one of the great books in the sports genre, and stands out as one of my favorite biographies/autobiographies. I rate it the full five stars, and encourage readers of all interests to give this one their attention.



2. The athletic proficiency of Hank Aaron is probably the greatest in the history of baseball if not all sports. He is a man of dignity, grace and the stuff legends are made of. This is an endearing and absorbing biography. This biography has captivated the legend of the man for me. It is well written with true fervor and endearment. One of the best.



3. "I Had A Hammer" is a wonderfully written autobiography about the struggles and the triumphs of one Henry(aka Hank) "The Hammer" Aaron, the career home run record holder, and one of the last of the "Negro League" players to make it big. Aaron describes his upbringing in Mobile well, and shows us the different levels of racism in the Deep South. The book reveals that Aaron fought against segregation in the minor leagues, helping to end "white-only" minor league teams, and shows us Aaron's love affair with the city of Milwaukee and it's long-gone Braves team, and the tense relationship between Aaron and Atlanta, which had the first Deep South major league team. This is recommended for lovers of baseball as well as those who want to know more about civil rights heroes. Atlanta is not cast in a good light in this book, but Aaron harbors little bitterness towards the city or the racism and death threats he had to endure while trying to break Babe Ruth's record.



4. I've been a fan from age seven, which is where I was in life when Henry hit number 715. His recounting of his life in baseball is captivating and highly educational.
   
   Mr Aaron is one of the most skilled players in baseball history, and his telling of his story explains that he is much more than that. Mr Aaron is a man of dignity and class, his success through clouds of racist hate provides a shining example of what a man can be under extreme circumstances. Thank you Henry, for your marvelous career in baseball, and for your open, honest sharing of the story.



5. It doesn't matter how many home runs Berry Bond's or anyone of this aera of Baseball, what Hank AAron endured and the racial hatred he went through only proves that he is the BEST. These modern day players could not survive what he and others went through.