No comments about Thomas Jefferson: Library Edition (Ready Reader).

5 comments about Way You Wear Your Hat.

1. I bought this book for my boyfriend. He loves Frank Sinatra. I gave it to him at Christmas along with a fedora (like Frank wears on the cover of the book). He read the whole book on Christmas. He said it was great!
   
   "Cock your hat- angles are attitudes"~Frank Sinatra



2. This book takes a turn away from Sinatra the Musician, and focuses on Sinatra the Man. Sure, he had a temper. Which one of us doesn't? Sure, he made some mistakes in his life. Which one of us hasn't? The flaws that FS had were overshadowed by the good qualities, with one that stands out in particular - LOYALTY. He stood by his friends just as fiercely as he stood up to his enemies.
   
   This book doesn't take the angle of a biography like so many others do. It only gets into biographical details as they relate to how Frank lived his life. It's full of great stories told by his friends and family on how Frank lived his life. It was a different time, and while all the specifics may not apply to today, the ideals are still very relevant. Everybody should take a least a page from Frank's life through this book, and apply it to their own life.
   
   A flower's not a flower if it's wilted.
   A hat's not a hat 'till it's tilted.



3. This is a fun read. It's not really biographical; simply a collection of anecdotes and memories that paint a picture of a man over the years. I get a real sense of Frank Sinatra -- we all knew him, and yet perhaps no one really knew him at all.



4. This is a great book; I echo all those positive reviews that came before. But it left me seriously jonesing for a guide like this for women. I really wish there were a parallel book for us dames. Does anyone know of a biography or a guide that looks at "the lost art of livin' life" for my gender?? **Please** let me know.



5. Great book, fast reading, it had to be a great life. What this book does is it describes what it was like to be a man before the days of sensitivity training, and equality for all...

5 comments about The Authentic Life of Billy the Kid.

1. A shame that Mr. Garrett had absolutely no writing talent at all, because the book could be good, dealing about one of the greatest legendsof all times.




2. The introduction to this book by J.C. Dyke is good, and explains a lot; especially the last paragraph, wherein he says,"The reading (and study) of [this book] is essential to an understanding of that mythical hero, the Robin Hood of the Southwest, who was once just a bucktoothed, thieving, murderous little cowboy-gone-bad, Billy the Kid."

   Of course, the author, Pat Garrett, was not an unprejudiced reporter of events, for it was he who ended the life of William Bonney, also known as William Antrim (his foster father's surname). It is also interesting I think, in passing, to mention that Billy the Kid was not a product of the West, but a transplanted New Yorker.

   Elsewhere, you will read that Pat Garrett's writing effort is poor, and leaves much to be desired. He readily admits it. In his own words, he says, "I make no pretension to literary ability, but propose to give to the public in intelligible English, 'a round, unvarnished tale,' unadorned with superfluous verbiage."

   Garrett is motivated, he says, by an "impulse to correct the thousand false statements which have appeared in the newspapers and in yellow-covered cheap novels."

   And, there is no doubt at all that the stories of Billy's exploits were greatly exaggerated by an Eastern press eager for stories of gunplay and adventure on the Western frontier. Today's myth of Billy the Kid is largely descended from the pulp stories created by the inflamed minds of Eastern "journalists" and the latter-day Hollywood screen-writers who have made no attempt at all to portray the truth.

   Pat Garrett claims to have known Billy throughout the period known as the "Lincoln County Wars," and having listened to Bonney's reminiscences around campfires and says he has interviewed many persons since Bonney's death. That much would seem to be undisputed.

   Bonney was born in 1859, six years after the birth of another Southwestern hardcase, John Wesley Hardin. In fact, they were contemporaries and were raising hell at the same time. Bonney, however, died young at the age of 21, in 1881. Hardin died at the age of 42--twice Billy's age--in 1895. And, if the rumors are true, Hardin probably killed twice as many men. They both started young. Both are reputed to have had fearful tempers. Neither were killed in the face-to-face "quick draw" shootouts so dear to the hearts of Hollywood writers. Instead, both of their executioners used stealth to kill their quarries.

   According to Garrett, in Pete Maxwell's darkened bedroom, where he shot Billy to death, Billy was holding a butcher knife in one hand and drawing his double-action Colt "Lightning" revolver ("self-cocker") with the other, while asking in Spanish, "Quien es? Quien es?" ("Who is it? Who is it?") They were, again according to Garrett, at point blank range. The only other witness was Pete Maxwell. There are other versions to the story, including one which insists that Bonney was unarmed except for the knife, which he had used to cut off a chunk of beef from a hanging carcass outside, because he was hungry.

   My question is this: it is undisputed that he was holding the knife, and the reason for which he had it. So, where was the beef? It is unlikely that he ate it raw, or stuck it in a pocket. Probably he was holding it in his other hand, intending to cook it. In which case, if he had a revolver tucked in his waistband, he must have had to drop the beef to fetch his revolver.

   It is probably of little importance; a Billy Bonney armed with a butcher knife, at close quarters, would still have needed killing. But, did he make the fatal mistake of coming to a gunfight armed only with a knife?

   I think that this is an important book, if for no other reason than the relationship that existed between the author and William Bonney. I recommend it. My version is in the hard cover.

   Joseph Pierre




3. This is quite a work. A quasi-biography, a documentary and an adventure tale all rolled into one is the best I can do to try and classify it as something. Essentially, Garrett's book is generic - an oddity which caan only ever be a `one off' due entirely to the nature of the writers' relation to their subject.

   Garrett and, to a lesser degree, Upson, write as technicians of fact-conveyance rather than writers. I found that this actually served to whet my appetite to learn more as I read. When you're hearing about a legend straight from the mouth of the horse that was chasing him, the awe you feel overrides your contempt for shoddy writing style.

   Having said that, the book is just the right length and so is nowhere near as boring as the claims I had heard here and elsewhere prior to my buying and reading it. The writing, although nonchalantly functional most of the time, is kept tight which is necessary. To have imbued it with imaginative streaks and cosmetic touch-ups would have certainly destroyed the flow of what is, you'll soon find if you pick it up, a fast river of intrigue. Anyway, Upson has done quite a good job at injecting artistry in his sections so there is no really terrible lack of good writing here.

   Of course, Garrett's leaden, subdued delivery do deaden the thrills a little. It's interesting how he balances his attitude toward `The Kid' throughout the book. At times, he seems to speak admirably of him (allbeit apparently with a false tone sometimes); at others, he seems genuinely distanced from him, almost indifferent to whether or not their paths will actually cross.

   Biased? Of course it is. What do you expect? Even so, `The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid' is made the definitive work on the topic because it, like the legend it examines, is a product of the same time. The best way to read it is with an analytical mind. By all means, challenge Garrett on his words when you feel he's deviating from his function as a chronicler - that is the point of reading this book a hundred and twenty years later. Unlike more recent biographers who would do exhaustive research based on documents, wide-sweeping second-hand information and historical `givens', it's best to go straight to those `givens' yourself and get to grips with them. Sheriff Garrett's book is a remarkable fountain of first generation facts and factoids and it commands the respect of academics and casual readers alike because of its durability. After all, just how many accounts of book length from the Old West survive today, especially those that receive serious scrutiny from a variety of disciplines.

   My only peeve lies in Garrett and Upson's ardent declarations regarding the aftermath of `The Kid's slaying. Why did they repeat themselves so many times that `The Kid' was dead and buried and `that was that'. It seems that Garrett was a little insecure in case he was challenged over the fate of his quarry. Whatever the case, the insecure tone he adopts in the last pages seems to somehow lend strength to the camp of `Flat Earthers' who claim that Billy the Kid survived into the next century....cue Brushy Bill Roberts......




4. Some very interesting facts are in this book. However, the book is dry and boring. So much work went into putting this book together, that it's a shame there wasn't a ghostwriter working with Mr. Garrett to capture the emotions and the urgency in what could have been a fascinating book. I'm afraid I only got halfway through this book, before I gave up. I hate to walk away from a book without finishing it... but there was no way I could finish this story.



5. This book starts out slow and dry. It didn't get exciting until Pat Garrett started to take over the story. This doesn't occur until about midway through the book. Don't expect this to be a screenplay for the movies Young Guns and Young Guns II. The book isn't that exciting but it does introduce you to an interesting character profile of Billy the Kid. Personally I feel that the first half of the book is fiction that is read for pure entertainment and the second half covers the real story of the Kid. I would recommend this book if you are interested in the Kids story and you want to read every angle of his story.

No comments about Character Above All, Volume 7 (Character Above All).

5 comments about Heart of America, The.

1. I purchased this book with interest since I, too, have taken cross-country bike trips. And I did find that two of Trout's messages rang clear. Those being that a person does need to pursue challenges of some kind or risk being absorbed by our spectator society, and that at heart people are basically kind and good-willed. I also found that some of Trout's "people he met" stories were interesting to read, and did bring back some personal memories. I was, however, disappointed with the overall flavor of the trip and the book. Trout's concern with getting to the end in as few days as possible was a little disconcerting to me. He needed to "stop and smell the flowers" a little more. Also, his constant mention of who was paying for his nightly motel room and the frequent credit given to the Focus on the Family ministry was a little too self-serving. In addition, I would have to agree with a previous reviewer in that there was too much relianc! e on Scriptural quotes and sharing of the Focus on the Family/Christian party line. This 190-plus page book would have been a much better magazine article than a book since there were not nearly enough fresh insights or stories to fill a book. I wish that Trout would have spent more time writing about his feelings as he looked up at a New Mexico sky, or as he talked to a Kansas farmer. I encourage Trout to keep journeying and writing. Only next time, I hope that he writes a little more for himself and not for the Walmart/Focus on the Family audience.



2. Living life to the fullest is something we all talk about but rarley do. This book is a great testimony of a man who actually did just that. My husband and I are coming up on age 50 and have talked about doing something adventurous for the past several years. Mike's book has definitely encouraged and motivated us to step up our plans. There is so much to experience in life if we just take that first step. We have made arrangements to backpack across the entire Appalachian trail next year. I can't wait. This book is a great tribute to all of us who dare to step out of our box a little, and to the great people of this country. I highly recommend it!



3. If you are looking for a technical/tour guide type manual about crossing the country by bicycle, skip this one. If you are looking book written by an evangelical Christian bicyclist about his journey across our great country, this is the one. Mike Trout, co-host of the Focus on the Family radio program, shares his experiences as he meets other Christians while doing something many of us only dream about. The hospitality and graciousness of the people he met along the way, gave me as a reader a renewed faith in the values that made this country such a great place to live. Some readers may be turned off or offended by the continual reference to scripture through out this book. But to the true believers, it is an example of how we should do all things in our lives with reverence to God and scripture. This is a book to be enjoyed be both cyclist and non-cyclist alike. The only criticisms I can find, I wish this book had more technical information, i.e. a route map, etc. and more detail about the eastern half of the trip. But as said before, there are other books written for those purposes. Another excellent book about cross-country bike travel is Over the Hills, by David Lamb. Written by a newspaper journalist, it also chronicles the trip of a man approaching mid life and unbarring on a life-changing journey. Very similar to Trout's book, but with out the religious overtones.



4. Even though I am a fan of Focus on the Family, and Mike Trout was the co-host of the broadcast when I read this book, I found it did not hold my attention. His descriptions of the places he stopped could have been enlarged, as well as the people he met and the sights he saw. He was accompanied by his son in law, and planned the coast to coast route which was not necessarily the easiest, but one which passed through Colorado, home of Focus on the Family.

   I agree that this could have been a full length magazine article instead of a book and certainly I would encourage readers to borrow it or check it out of the library. It is not a keeper in my opinion. Sorry Mike, I liked you as co-host, but as author, well, you are just so so.




5. Don't bother with this one if you want to read about his experiences cycling. Get it if you want to reinforce your Christian faith, or be converted. Unfortunately, I was interested in the cycling angle. This book is not much more than an advertisement for Focus on the Family, the author's employer.

5 comments about Bogart: In Search of My Father.

1. Well written but hardly engaging, Stephen Bogart descends to the predictable far too often. Open any section and the recipe will be identical: Fascinating anecdotes about Humphrey Bogart & mid-century Hollywood are sandwiched between massive slabs of "oh my daddy died and thats why life has been so hard for me me me!" The mantra of selfpity continues throughout. For those who blame their parents for the crippling hardship of adulthood (!) this is the book for you. Bogart fans will perhaps be less pleased - 2 stars for fluid prose & the bits which actually deal with Bogie, icon & man



2. Heard BOGART: IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER, written and
   read by Stephen Humphrey Bogart . . . his son was only eight
   when he died and for a long time, it was difficult for him to
   deal with his legendary father . . . only with the encouragement
   of his famous mother, Lauren Bacall, was he finally able to
   come to terms with some of the anger he felt toward his father.
   
   I'm still not quite sure that I understand this feeling; it's almost
   as if he blamed his father for dying . . . however, Stephen
   Bogart did a good job of researching his father Humphrey, and
   he shares many amusing anecdotes that I not heard previously.
   
   In addition, I enjoyed reading about how Bogart and Bacall
   met and fell in love.
   
   BOGART: IN SEARCH OF MY FATHER gave me the impression
   that Humphrey had no idea how to raise his children, but it
   was clear that he did love them . . . Stephen Bogart now
   appreciates this fact, too.



3. The book is a collection of stores from interviews conducted by Stephen. Who, after a battle with cocaine, removing the chip from his shoulder, and maturing, decided to find out who his fater was. The book is a fast read, has a few interesting stories, and the pics are good. Glad I checked it out of the library and didn't pay for it.



4. I don't imagine any of us really know what it is like to be the son of a legend..the incredible pressure that must come with living up to your father..it sounds like a wonderful easy life but as Stephen Bogart let's us know it's not..a book full of anecdotes and stories, self-examination, a bit too much whining for my tastes but nevertheless some tasty morsels can be found in this book..



5. I'm reluctant to give this book a star rating because it's like rating the author's life. This memoir/biography is not a sensational page-turner in the "Mommie Dearest" sense, which is probably why it's out of print now, but I think what Stephen Bogart has to say about his father and the experience of being the child of celebrities is interesting and a valuable addition to the biographical literature on Humphrey Bogart.
   
   The central paradox of this book is that though it's meant to be an honest, soul-baring self-examination, it can't be because of the obvious chilling shadow Stephen Bogart's mother casts over it. The introduction by Lauren Bacall has an ominous tone of "I've read this over and little Stevie has my permission to say these things," and the younger Bogart's exploratory journey into his past is clearly done with an awareness that he's doing it under his mother's surveillance (most obviously when he goes to visit the house where he and his family lived when his father was alive--this is when he's a middle-aged man with children of his own--and he brings his mother along.) It seems to me that Stephen Bogart probably has a lot more to say than what he dared put in this book, and though Lauren Bacall should live and be happy, it's not going to have a chance to come out until she's gone.

No comments about Pieces of Heaven.

No comments about A Golfer's Life.

5 comments about Getting Stoned With Savages: A Trip Throught the Islands of Figi and Vanuatu, Library Edition.

1. Centipedes from hell, landslides and plenty of naked dancing men. Now that's entertainment! I also admire any man who has enough balls to follow his woman to the ends of the earth. The only problem I have with the book is the title, but I know sometimes writers don't have much say in that area.



2. J. Maarten Troost is the funniest travel writer around today. Like his previous bestseller, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, this book takes him to remote areas of the Pacific to learn about the people, customs, dangers, and weirdness. Troost and his intrepid, "beguiling" wife Sylvia are adventurers most of the time, but cowardly when they need to be--for example, when standing on the ridge of an active, suddenly discovering they're swimming in an active shark area, or dealing with natives who just might be the last remaining cannibals. This books is entertaining, enlightening, and hilarious.



3. Troost comes across as a likeable guy, but his second travel book isn't quite as entertaining as his first. "Getting Stoned" suffers from too much exposition about the history of politics and culture in Vanuatu and Fiji. Important stuff, yes, but not what I want from Troost. He is at his best when he is in the middle of absurdly funny situations, such as when he drives a borrowed vehicle off the side of the road in the middle of nowhere or battles a giant centipede. I want more narrative from him and less exposition. Still, this book is pretty good; it's worth the read. I want to give it an extra half star.



4. J. Maarten Troost is the best author! I love his work. He writes how I think. Witty, intellectually sarcastic and insightful!



5. Maarten Troost is a wonderfully talented author. He writes so colorfully, interestingly and humorously. It was a real treat to read this book. I also read his other book, "The Sex Lives of Cannibals," and I loved that book, too!

5 comments about Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays.

1. Very very interesting. Made my husband very happy+



2. This book consists in two distinct parts. In one Hawking talks about his life, and in the other about his major areas of interest in his researches. Both parts of the work are written in clear and understandable language, though I admit that when he talks about black holes, singularities, and the real heart of his work my own lack of understanding and knowledge prevents me from feeling I really 'get it'. Hawking's work in these areas is considered foundational and of great importance. I cannot possibly evaluate it.
   As for the second simpler section on his life there is the one overwhelming fact. It was only after he contracted AMS that he decided to get down to work, and become a serious researcher. His meeting Jane Wilde was the key here for this gave him hope for his future. She became his wife and the mother of his three children. And though they later divorced he attributes her with having given the hope and belief he needed at that critical time.
   Despite his infirmity Hawking went on to make major scientific discoveries. He at one point lost his power his speech and learned to communicate through a special synthesizer. He is a widely appreciated figure whose 'Brief History of Time' won a worldwide readership. He has continued to speak out on issues such as global warming, the nuclear - war danger, the necessity for human population of space.
   The book is naturally reticent about many questions regarding Hawking's life which no doubt future biographers will more deeply explore.
   One more thought about the 'scientific work'. It seems to me and this is a layman's opinion that a lot of his work is done in areas and ways which are speculative and not as yet verifiable by experimental test. It thus seems to me that comparisons sometimes made of his work with that of Newton and Einstein are probably premature.



3. More from the mind that gave us A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME, this is a collection that helps fill in a picture of the man and the philosophic framework that produced a lofty best-seller. Oh, and by the way, this work is also a semi-autobiography of (perhaps) the pre-eminent physicist of the 20th Century (Time -what else?- will tell. His reputation may eventually eclipse Einstein's, or absorb it like a black hole). Is the discovery of a complete theory of everything at hand? Is there a boundary to thought? Are we accidental tourists in an accidental universe? What recordings do you imagine Hawking would want to be toting if shipwrecked on a desert island? This collection includes the best short description of the current state of scientific knowledge about fundamental particles and forces that I have seen. Deep. And wide.



4. This is a great book for anyone remotely interested in cosmology. This includes the origin of the universe, black holes, or even the concepts of fate and free will. Hawking's essays are written to reach wide audiences, so this book does not require an engineering or other relevant background.
   
   Hawking begins with a brief background on his life, and although brief and concise, it is helpful to get a general understanding of his earlier life at Oxford and Cambridge. It also talks about the effects that ALS had on him in the early and later stages.
   
   The story then unfolds with a series of essays that he has written or given to different audiences, spanning the 80s and early 90s. He discusses in some depth the famous theories of Einstein in the early 20th century. The special theory of relativity in 1905, and the general theory of relativity in 1915, had significant impacts on the way scientists view the world and the universe. General relativity essentially describes the interactions of matter and energy on a large scale. However, small atoms and particles were found to behave much differently. The motion of these particles was defined by quantum mechanics, developed some fifteen years later.
   
   Hawking gives us a stronger understanding of these theories, and discusses the problem facing current scientists in trying to develop a single theory that describes the universe; one that unites quantum mechanics with gravity. He talks about currently theories, including string theory, and the problems those propose.
   
   We also learn much about black holes, the primary focus of Hawking's research. He discusses the big discovery he made in 1974 that black holes are not entirely black, but radiate tiny particles at a constant rate. He delves deep into their mistery, discussing what might happen if one were to fall into a black hole.
   
   Other essays talk about the origin and future of the universe. The problem with current physics is that Einstein's theory predict a singulariy, or "big bang", at the origin of the universe. However, current physical laws break down and fail to describe what existed or happened prior to the big bang. They lead to such profound and controversial questions that include fate and religion.
   
   Overall, the book is a fascinating step into the mind of one of the greatest and interesting physicists alive today. Many consider Hawking to be the modern-day Einstein; take a stroll through these essays, into the questions, observations, and conclusions this man has made, and you may just find yourself in agreement.



5. BHaBU is a very uneven collection of essays. To LJ's criticisms I would add one more -- which the author himself notes at the outset: there is an enormous amount of repetition in this already short book. To be sure, the science writing in BHaBU is, expectedly, quite interesting (hence, 3 stars). But many essays in BHaBU are little more than quasi-verbatim rehashings of other essays in the book. Overall, BHaBU feels more like a profit-seeking venture than the deliberate product of a conscientious author. And strong agreement with LJ: the last 'essay' in BHaBU -- the transcript of a radio interview -- is pure filler. Very annoying, I thought.