3 comments about CHARACTER ABOVE ALL VOLUME 2: DAVID MCCULLOUGH ON (Character Above All).

1. This cassette should be compulsory listening for ALL leaders. I have heard it dozens of times and it never fails to keep me on track. McCullough's great voice speaking about the character of a great man has produced the finest short audio tape on leadership that I have ever heard. I bought several hundred copies and gave them to managers. Put the character traits of Truman into today's business world and what an improved world it will be. BUY THIS TAPE!! Listen to it many times. It will have a HUGE effect on your life.



2. Truman. An entertaining one hour speech peppered with anecdotes covering the failures & successes of Truman. There may never have been a person to succeed to the president as unprepared & in such a time of national crises. We were about to invade Japan with perhaps two miilion men & 600,000 casualties. One thing he did know. He could not be Franklin Roosevelt. Nobody could. He had to be Harry Turman. He knew himself, grew into the job & ranks as one of our near great presidents. Apparently the most important experience of his life was World WarI which he could have avoided in several ways. He found he was brave, he could lead men in adversity & he liked it. He had known disappointments, hated farming, failed as a businessman & was largely ignored as "The Senator from Pendergast." He was honest, stubborn to a fault, loyal, humble but most of all confident in his abilities. You get a flavor of all this in a much too short tape. Read McCullough's "Truman."



3. I don't even normally listen to audio tapes like these, but being a fan of Harry Truman and David McCullough, I had to get this. I do want to say that I am VERY, VERY hopeful that this comes out on CD. It is absolutely enthralling. Very fun, very educational. As has already been said - every leader should listen to this.

4 comments about Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (And What the Neighbors Thought).

1. This book is a fun and informative book. The pictures are filled with humorous meanings and hidden information. The book keeps the reader's attention by keeping the included information short and simple, but also makes sure that the reader gets as much possible about the author. This book is great for kids and students to use as a report source as it is filled with great information. Kids would rather use this book as an information source rather than an encylopedia since the information is easy to understand. Authors in there are some you may not know, ( Murasaki Shikibu) and some well know ones ( Charles Dickens). I am glad I purchsed this book. I really liked the pictures which are so vibrant with color. This would make a great buy.



2. "How can you print a piece of your own soul," Dickinson, p. 51

   This is the 2nd in the Krull and Hewitt's "Lives of ..." series. The book contains 19 chapters on 20 writers in birth order: Murasaki Shikibu (973?-1025?), Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Jane Austen (1775-1817), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Charlotte & Emily Bronte (1816-1855 & 1818-1848), Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), Mark Twain (1835-1910), Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924), Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Jack London (1876-1916), Carl Sandburg (1878-1967), E. B. White (1899-1985), Zora Neale Hurston (1901?-1960), Langston Hughes (1902-1967), Isaac Bashevis Singer (1904-1991)

   This is a perfect book for young adolescents and pre-teens who as they grow and mature frequently feel awkward. Krull introduces us to the idiosyncrasies of the literary. Some of the authors were loners, eccentric, a wee bit peculiar. Michael Jackson's behaviors might seem normal when held in comparison. Some retreated into themselves. Some sought out adventures. Some as adults were unsuccessful at the ordinary.

   Some worked at a young age to support the family. Some took daily walks, very long daily walks. Some were not healthy and therefore wrote in bed. There were some similarities and some differences, but they all shared a singular conviction to write and write they each did well.

   Hewitt's delightful portraits of the writers are precious. My favorite portrait is of Frances Hodgson Burnett of "The Secret Garden" fame. Her hat is the secret garden.

   Given the high price of the book, I was surprised that Krull did not include a list of the authors' books and/or poems and the publication years. END




3. Kathleen Krull's Lives of the Writers Comedies, Tragedies (and What the Neighbors Thought) was an exceptionally informative book for young readers. Krull presented basic biographical information for up to nineteen well-known authors from the past and more resent times. Along with this standard information, Krull also offered not-so-common facts about the life, personalities, and actions of the authors. While reading the book, I found myself feeling as if I had came to know some the authors as a person rather than simply an author from the past. Also, I enjoyed the illustrators' drawings of the each author. The illustrations seemed to add a bit of humor and light-heartedness to the information. I believe this book would serve as a great introductory tool for students of various ages.



4. This is another charming addition to Krull's outstanding series. I have read all but one of the books and was very excited about Lives of the Writers, since writing is my area of expertise. The illustrations were lovely, as always, but the writing (of all things!) lacked vigour, droning on with archaic facts about the authors. Towards the end I had trouble identifying the authors or the books they are most famous for. Krull would have been better served to write about familiar, yet interesting authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien or Lucy Maud Montgomery, as opposed to Zora Neale Hurston and Isaac Bashevis Singer.
   
   Nevertheless, this is a good, witty, and light book, and it is a welcome addition to Krull's series.

5 comments about Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing.

1. Chameleon journalist Ted Conover trains as a prison guard and works in Sing Sing, giving readers an intense look into prison life and the dynamics of the guards and guarded.
   
   Intense, intensely personal, and full of insight into the prison system itself.
   
   Best part is his history of the US penitentiary system, which most of us don't study in US History classes! Highly readable, well-researched section that should be of interest to all US citizens.
   
   An incredible journey, a well-written account.



2. While on the surface, the idea of Conover immersing himself into the NY maximum security prison system as a corrections officer (CO) seemed to be a recipe for an exciting book, Newjack did not live up to its hype. Somewhere in the book it was mentioned that to become a mature CO, 4-5 years of work experience is necessary. Consequently, the one year Conover spent in New York's Sing Sing maximum security prison was hardly enough time to learn and build the kind of relationships necessary for a thoughtful and entertaining book. Instead, the parts of the book I found to be the most interesting were the historical accounts of who had the most influence in how the U.S. and NY prison systems evolved.
   
   Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of new ground covered through Conover's personal experience during guard training or in Sing Sing. The old clichés of prison guards as mean SOBs and apathetic prisoners beyond rehabilitation were reinforced.
   
   I commend Conover's dedication to compiling material from firsthand experience, but Newjack was mildly entertaining and even less educational in terms of observations of inmate behavior, or new ideas in improving the system. Newjack would have had richer content had Mr. Conover been allowed to shadow an experienced CO as he set out to do initally, but was denied.



3. Awarded a 2001 National Book Award and selected as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Newjack Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing has become a sociological classic, a gritty, eyewitness account of the escalating tragedy afflicting the American penal system. As a journalist-turned undercover prison guard, Conover demonstrates the sweeping irony of a prison system that has engulfed certain minorities on such a massive scale that prison culture has influenced popular culture through trappings such as baggy, beltless, low-slung pants or laceless sneakers, all with a pervasiveness that reflects a dark reality: "Prison has unwittingly given rise to its own empowering culture," observes Conover, "...one that keeps inmates resentful and resistant to incarceration's `reformative' goals...."
   
   The failure of prison to reform its inmates not only fails the incarcerated, observes the author in this hard-hitting narrative, but our entire society, which pays millions of dollars each year to warehouse dysfunctional human beings and must face the broken families they leave behind, in a vicious cycle that expands exponentially with each new generation.
   
   A string of powerful and insightful anecdotes portraying the wastefulness of inmate life and the struggle of both guards and prisoners to maintain their humanity in an inhuman environment buttresses the author's point: Investing in preventative measures to strengthen families and communities would reduce childhood trauma, provide hope, and avert the far higher societal and financial costs of rampant violent crime. In sum, Newjack offers a suspenseful, cinema noir style that engages the reader while conveying a bleak, cautionary vision, one that we ignore at our own peril.



4. Average prose, a real cure for insomnia with some interestging tidbits. It's a book I now own that will forever collect dust.



5. It has been said that good writers must suffer for their craft. But few would have voluntarily gone to the lengths Ted Conover went to in order to gather information for this important, informative book. Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing chronicles the author's experiences as he worked incognito for a year as a rookie corrections officer at world famous Sing Sing, one of New York State's maximum security prisons.
   Conover calmly tells it like it is in the little seen but ever expanding world of corrections. He describes the soul sapping indignities that officers and inmates alike contend with on a day to day basis, bringing to life a hidden world that few outsiders will ever see or even want to think about.
   For an informed, nonsensationalistic look at modern day prisons and the men and women who guard them, Newjack by Ted Conover is without equal. Highly recommended.

No comments about Caddie: The Autobiography of a Sydney Barmaid.

5 comments about Lucky.

1. 
   I don't recommend this book to anyone who enjoys prose or literature. Sebold's use of a stripped down, matter-of-fact tone desensitizes her story. Though her rape was a traumatic event, I couldn't feel for her. Perhaps it was her intent not to draw out feeling to avoid pity but personally, I think it was uneffective in conveying her complete story because a memoir needs an emotional plot as well.
   
   I wanted to put down this book before I was even half way though there were still many unfinished subplots like the conviction of her rapist.
   
   I would expect this book in the children's/ preteen section if it weren't for the detailed account of the rape.



2. Lucky is a thought provoking book that helps readers understand rape from the victim's perspective. Written in an honest manner, it explores the rational and sometimes irrational reactions of everyone involved - whether victim, friend, or family member.
   
   Seabold opens the book with a vivid description of her brutal rape. Initially, this makes it a difficult read because it forces readers to live through a brutal act. However, it also helps to expose a reader's preconceived notions and biases. Seabold describes her struggles to return to a normal life and she honestly discusses societal issues that favor the criminal and penalize the victim. This is a good read for anyone looking for some insight into a difficult issue.



3. From the opening pages, Sebold tells the reader a truly horrifying story of her rape in accurate and quite graphic detail. And whilst horrified at what she has endured, you want to read more - to see how someone survives an attack like that, and what life is like for a rape victim in the hours, days and week afterwards. I couldn't put this book down - a combination of great writing and admiration for the author, made this a compelling read.



4. 
   The differences between Sebold's memoir and fiction are vast. In "Lucky" as opposed to "The Lovely Bones" words are hammered in, staccato and short, understated. I liked both books, but I do have to point out it is as if they were written by different writers. In looking over the reviews people seem to hate one and love the other or vice versa, and I think it's a shame. Lovely Bones is like a poem: dreamy. Lucky is dry and aches like a bad knee. They're both excellent, just different.
   
   Lucky is about Sebold's experience as rape survivor, her eventual court experience, and the sad aftermath of her first two years of college. It's no secret that I've been raped myself and am in litigation regarding it up to my neck so it was interesting to see my own reaction. It's a helpful book to read in regards to coming to terms and being honest regarding rape. It's very grounding.
   
   Sebold's almost obsessional use of detail throughout some parts of the book juxtapose with her complete blanks on other seemingly very important details quite realistically. Her harsh rhythm describes, in many ways, my own blank face when trying to plow through describing to lawyers exactly what happened to me. Certainly a book is a safer place to let loose than a courtroom is, and yet she treats her book like a courtroom, as if everyone is standing in judgment of her, particularly her own self to her own self.
   
   What rang the most truthful was Sebold's masochistic honesty, her seeming wish to drive a stake in every relationship she had had prior to her rape. Likewise, her roommate's rape did the same.
   
   Her sentence-style, syntax, etc, reminded me of Hemingway, each sentence an arrow, pointing to a destination, each point drawn taut and clearly. She hit a bull's eye, no doubt.



5. While not always pleasant to read, I found Lucky more compelling and much more likeable than that drivel-fest book, The Lovely Bones. Lucky is a blunt first-hand account of surviving rape, and its long-term effects on the victim, including physical and emotional trauma and, consequentially, its indirect impact on the victim's loved ones. I'd recommend it to all women, if not for reading pleasure, then at least as an eye-opener.

5 comments about Mark Twain: A Life.

1. Powers gives us a terrific chronology, densely packed information, charming and insightful prose, plenty of great Twain quotes and anecdotes, empathy for the tragedies of Twain's life and twitting of his oddities when called for. I found it quite remarkable that the book could be so factual and also so readable. There's an excellent index, solid background references, and many laugh-out-loud moments. Adding to the pleasaure of this reading experience are some delightful and - new to me - photographs. Strongly recommend this outstanding biography.



2. This biography is a well written, comprehensive account of Twain's life. What is missing is a coherent, compelling life story or insightful interpretation of Twain's creative process.



3. I was disappointed by this biography of one of the most interesting and popular figures in American history and letters. Unlike so many of the other reviewers I found this biography to be excruciatingly long and boring. It takes quite an effort by a writer to make as fascinating a person as Mark Twain dull, but the author succeeds. The writer kept throwing in his personal asides in an effort to be clever, but instead was merely annoying. The writing style is awkward and stilted and it takes a real effort to push through to the end. The author seems to be trying to direct attention to himself as much as the subject. This style makes the 722 pages seem twice as long.



4. I've read several biographies of Twain over the years, none more beautifully written than this book. It reads like a cultural history of the US during Twain's lifetime. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Twain's work.



5. In the interest of full disclosure, I need to say at the outset that I'm a lifelong admirer of the subject of this lively, witty biography. Born and raised in Missouri, Clemens' home state, I, like many country boys of my generation, dreamed of floating down the Mississippi on a raft. I even tried to build one; it sank, which was likely for the best. But I digress.
   
   Ron Powers evidences great sympathy for his subject without coddling or sugar-coating the crusty curmudgeon with the wild white mane. His prose is appropriately tongue-in-cheek at times--as Twain would have wished, I think--and his research is scrupulously thorough without adopting the plodding pace that plagues so many scholarly biographies. He allows the reader to marvel at the Sage of Hannibal as he glitters in all his brilliance... and as he curdles in his own self-centered blindness.
   
   Best of all, Powers illuminates to great advantage Mark Twain's pointed social satire and political commentary, uncovering what was, for me at least, the important and previously unknown record of Twain's scathing critiques of U.S. expansionism and colonialist exploitation in places like the Philippines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Steaming upriver against the popular currents of the day, Twain anticipates by decades--and, in some ways, lays the groundwork for--the rhetoric of dissent that would become prominent in the 1960s.
   
   For Twain junkies like me, or for anyone interested in the rise of the uniquely American literary voice before and during the Gilded Age, MARK TWAIN: A LIFE is a better find than the loot stashed in Injun Joe's cave.

5 comments about Nixon: A Life.

1. Aitken clearly writes a sympathetic biography of Nixon. Sometimes he goes too far toward apology for Nixon, whitewashing his obstruction of justice during Watergate and other crimes as being unimportant because they were unsuccessful. He portrays Nixon as almost always sinned-against, instead of the sinner.
   
   Nonetheless, this is one of the better things that I have read about Nixon because it portrays him as a person instead of the personification of evil. You learn about his character, his motivations, his family, and his many important achievements in foreign policy (such as triangular diplomacy).
   
   The strength of the book is Aitken's access to Nixon through several interviews, as well as interviews with many other key Nixon associates--a hostile biographer was never going to have this kind of access. The author does an excellent job explaining how Nixon transformed US foreign policy from the bipolar, anti-Soviet approach of Eisenhower, JFK, and LBJ into a sophisticated and much more effective triangular diplomacy. He provides much interesting material about Nixon's Quaker background and his spiritual ups and downs through out his life. Finally, he provides a good analysis of Nixon's well-planned and deliberate comeback after his resignation.
   
   The weaknesses should also be mentioned--Aitken often portrays Nixon's views of his opponents as objective fact, and he too often assumes that conspiracies against Nixon explain away his misdeeds. He excuses Nixon's rough political campaigns as either a reaction to his opponents or as a result of the atmosphere of the times.
   
   Overall, the writing is interesting, although it does not rise to the level of gripping. The book reveals several key facets of Nixon that are usually overlooked, and an intelligent and thoughtful reader can see through the apologetic elements. Although not perfect, it's still the best book or article that I have read on Nixon.



2. Recently, I've began reading a series of Presidential biographies. First I read "Master of the Senate" which is about LBJ. Next, I decided to read this book about Nixon.
   
   I found it to be a good read, although the author seems to make it his mission to rehabilitate Nixon a little too much. He makes guys like John Dean, H.R. Haldeman, and Bob Ehrlicman look like the main villians in Watergate, and gives too much credit to G. Gordon Liddy. It does a good job of following the major events in Nixon's life, and it does lack the anti-Nixon bias that many Americans, myself included, have towards the 37th President.
   
   I recommend the book, but I do warn you that it may be a little to pro-Nixon for some people.



3. Love him or hate him, the 37th President of the United States occupied the office at a critical time in our nations history.
   
   British Member of Parlament Jonathan Aitken gives us a nuanced portrait of a highly complex man. Aitken, initially no admirer of RN's, paints a sympathetic portrait of a deeply flawed man who, in the end, was his own worst enemy.
   
   While reading this book I could not help but recall the words of Henry A. Kissinger; "What would he have been like if some would have loved him?" I could not help but think of opportunities lost, such as a resounding victory in Vietnam, true detante' with the USSR, a China policy with lasting power, as well as true health care and welfare reform.
   
   Instead we get a picture of a White House under seige almost from the moment of inaugeration. Although, it could be argued, RN sought for his moment since a child, once he reached the pinnacle he was unable to enjoy that which he strove so long for. We see an idiosyncratic Nixon who thought that sleep was a waste of time, talking to the press was a waste of time, and being friends with your enemies was a waste of time. The result? Caracatures of "Tricky Dick," a stiff, wooded figure who exuded no warmth or strength (unlike FDR and Reagan).
   
   The criticisms of this book as being "too favorable" are not warranted. Throughout Aitken's book he strives not to paint a uni-dimensional portrait of Nixon; to do so requires a great deal of journalistic jujitsu at times because RN is so quirky. Notwithstanding, we have a volume that properly gives RN credit where he is due, and one that takes him to task when need be. The fact that ANYONE says something positive about Nixon is a bit much for some because of the fact that we have been conditioned to only see RN in his darkest moments.



4. Nixon was hardly an angel, but he was never the evil man that many so-called biographers have portrayed him to be. This book is an excellent read for people that are interested in Nixon the President and Man as opposed to Nixon the Beast. He WAS human by the way.He had failings and personal demons to be sure, but this book doesn't harp on these failings as being the WHOLE story of Dick Nixons life. Nixon's admirable qualities do come through in this book instead of being buried or ignored. Nixon's rise to power was the product of his intellect and just plain hard work. There was never a silver spoon in Dick Nixon's mouth for sure, and he never forgot it. This was his strength and in the end his weakness. He always seemed to resent the "silver spoon" crowd and they returned the favor in spades. That crowd still finds it necessary to trample on his grave every chance they get. The negative books are still coming. The hatred is still there. It's sad that they still find the need to attack him all of these years after his death. Dick Nixon would find it gratifying that he still has that effect on them. Read the book, it's great.



5. In searching for a positive, or, at least, evenhanded account of America's most controversial 20th century President, (no easy task) I stumbled across this biography written by a British politician, Jonathan Aitkin. I found Nixon: A Life to be the most favorable biography of anyone I have ever read and it indeed pushes the boundaries of scholarship in its near-hagiography.
   
   As a record of facts, I would give this book five stars. No biography can cover every little thing but Aitkin does an excellent job of covering just about everything the reader needs to know about the life and times of America's 37th President. Aitkin quotes extensively from the subject both in personal interview and archival documents. Aitkin also quotes family, friends, employees and a veritable who's who of famous historical figures large and small from the second have of the last century.
   
   As an objective analysis of Nixon's character and behavior, I would have to give this biography only three stars. Aitkin clearly worships his subject and rarely passes up an opportunity for blankfaced praise. Though Aitkin occassionally acknowledges Nixon's deep personal and moral flaws, he is quick to qualify his remarks by downplaying the severity of the flaws that contributed greatly to Nixon being the only President to be oblidged to remove himself from office. Aitkin bends over backward to portray a well-meaning and honorable Nixon as beset on all sides by "liberal" media and historians, witch-hunting partisan Democrats in Congress, and ignorant and meanspirited Vietnam War demonstrators. Aitkin effectively tips his hand when he defends Nixon's extremely controversial decision to bomb Cambodia, "Although no liberal historian has been able to accept it, the Cambodian incursion brought about many of its intended tactical and strategic results." Here, he is clearly drawing a line in the sand between "us" and "them" with himself and Nixon on one side of the line and "liberal historians" who disagree with the President's decision on the other.
   
   That Nixon accomplished many admirable feats in his first term is undeniable. He opened up relations with Communist China, he (and Kissinger) finally ended the Vietnam Conflict horrorshow, he started the EPA, he did a fine job hastening the desegregation of The South's public schools and bringing the South closer to mainstream America, he ended the draft, he supported the arts and expanded the national parks. In fact, domestically, Nixon was at least centrist, if not positively leftist in his policies that benefited the poor, the arts and the environment. His opening of China was a brilliant foreign policy masterstroke. Because of his accomplishments, I honestly believe Richard Nixon loved America, was capable of deep sympathy toward those less fortunate, was an inherently decent man, and revered the office of The Presidency.
   
   Nixon was a strange and deeply intellectual man. Deeply flawed but extraordinarily gifted. Extremely intelligent and perhaps even brilliant. Physically and socially awkward and a natural recluse, he was insatiably intellectually curious & read incessantly and deeply. He loved to talk for hours and hours about political and social topics, particularly his area of expertise, foreign policy. He seemed to be most relaxed amoung a very few close confidants or abroad impressing foreign leaders with his intelligence, insight, foresight and expertise in foreign policy. The more I read about him, the more I couldn't help but think he would have made a tremendous Ivy League college professor in History or Political Science.
   
   He was, by no means, the devil incarnate many have portrayed him as but he was no cupcake either. A ruthless and occassionally dirty politician; even as early as his first election, he was accused of violating the spirit, if not the rules, of political fairplay. The phrase "dirty tricks" was invented in the political sphere to describe Nixon's unsavory political tactics. He came to prominence as the Republican party's attack dog, willing to do and say anything, no matter how mean or unethical. He was chosen as Eisenhower's running for precisely this reason. The Republican Party shrewdly figured Eisenhower could be perceived by the public as the benign, smiling world savior in grandfatherly retirement while Nixon did the political dirty work. Even other Republicans noted Nixon's somewhat distasteful enthusiasm for such work.
   
   Nixon, like many powerful people, was pathologically adverse to admitting or accepting fault. For instance, Both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush have demonstrated this characteristic. Powerful people are often incapable of acknowledging themselves as accountable to the same rules and laws less powerful people are. Nixon exacerbated this common trait with his own meanness, paranoia, pugnaciousness, vindictiveness, pettiness, secrecy and willingness to step outside the lines. Judging by many of his cabinet postings, it is fair to posit the possibility that his social ineptness led him to be a poor judge of character. His decision to engage in the Watergate coverup was immoral and just plain stupid. Even brilliant people do dumb things. That Nixon was able to convince himself or be convinced that a coverup would bring anything but disastrous political and, thus, professional ruination is mindboggling to the point of bizarre.
   
   Richard Nixon was a complicated and conflicted man. A good man and real patriot though deeply flawed, he was a compelling portrait of a man who may have been better suited to a different, more cerebral profession that would have allowed his natural gifts to flourish while limiting the impact of his personal awkwardness & flaws on himself and the outside world. A brilliant statesman but an ultimately failed President.

1 comments about Napoleon and Hitler.

1. ...on modern history as Napoleon & Adolf Hitler. Unfortunately their hands are soaked in blood. Desmond Steward endeavors to compare & contrast the two dictators. This is done alternating back & forth telling their stories from the beginning. He succeeds in this. Hitler may have been loathe to admit it but it appears he took cues from Napoleon although his hero worship of Fredrick the Great of Prussia & admiration of Clauswitz is evident. Perhaps he had a desire to succeed where Napoleon failed. This in turn hastened his own departure from the world stage faster in fact than Napoleon. Emotionally, they were bound by their common meglomania & absolute belief that providence had decreed that it was their destiny to rule Europe-and beyond. England tormented them both. Each had elaborate plans for the invasion of Britain. Both had moments of clarity when even they realized that an invasion would not succeed. However, Napoleon warred constantly with England with a few years of suspicious peace. Hitler did not wish to fight England at all & tried more than once to make peace. Neither could match England's navy. They were essentially land-lubbers. Their ruin, of course lay in their invasions of Russia. The Russians played the same game twice. Fall-back, fall-back & then let the famous Russian winter finish them off. Both could have succeeded. After conquering vast areas of Europeon Russia they could have both sought a favorable peace. It would have brought all parties the time they needed. The Czar wanted peace. Likewise, Napoleon was bleeding France white. Stalin wanted time for the allies to establish a second front in western Europe. Hitler needed time-off from fighting on two fronts. It could have happened except Napoleon's ego and Hitler hatred of bolshiveikism & the Russian people in general prevented that. They departed on their views of race. Napoleon felt the Jews an asset to France. We know Hitler's views. Napoleon died a slow death on the island of St. Helena in virtual seclusion & thus was able to nurture a heroic legend through his writings. History has treated him more kindly as a result. Hitler had no such luxury. He committed suicide in his bunker while Berlin crumbled above him. As for the narration, Fredrick Davidson's use of French & German pharases sounded arrogant and was off-putting. His impersonations of Hitler & Napoleon sounded like Beldar Conehead.

5 comments about Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest.

1. This book has a great title, as it sums up Beck Weathers' Mt. Everest experience.Unfortunately, this is the only great thing about this book. It is, at best, a mildly interesting book. The only truly interesting part is his recollection of the Everest trip and its immediate aftermath. His survival, which is truly amazing, is almost glossed over and turned into a sad soap opera about a marriage gone stale with time.
   
   It does seem that Beck's patient wife, Peach, had been ill treated in the sense that he would go off to do some amateur mountain climbing (with the emphasis on amateur), leaving her with the kids for weeks at a time and remaining incommunicado. Since her voice is interspersed throughout this book, you can see why he might want to get away. A more insipid voice, I can't imagine. She is what is bad about this book. Yet, at the same time it was her efforts, along with those of her friends, which were the catalyst for the herculean helicopter rescue by Colonel Madan K.C. who brought Beck down from the mountain. Still, she is an utter bore.
   
   What is good about the book is Beck's sense of humor and his indomitable spirit, which is undoubtedly what kept him alive in unbelievably harsh conditions on Everest. Though it is those like him who, financially able to go on these expeditions but lacking the technical skill to effectively navigate the harsh terrain, put themselves and others at risk. While it is clear that he was delighted to be rubbing shoulders with the mountaineering elite on Everest, it did not seem to dawn on him that he was just another foolhardy dilettante who, though having had some climbing experience, simply did not belong on Everest. It is this hubris which brought him to this pass. Quite frankly, given his description of his mountaineering efforts on some of the world's other tall peaks, it is a miracle he was not left for dead long before Everest.



2. If you like to read about real mountaineering, try a book by Joe Simpson or Jon Krakauer. If you want to read a book about a guy who blows off his family to climb, and all the damage he does because of it, then this book is ideal for you.
   
   I was hoping to read a survival story, instead I got family dynamics.



3. As one of the other reviewers had written, I too have becme nearly obsessed with the events surrounding the tragic events of May 1996. I have read every book I can find on the subject.
   
   Dr. Weathers book is very well written. It gives perspective from his wife and friends view as they waited his return and the sadness and then apprehension when they find he is still alive but in dire trouble.
   
   I'd highly recommend this book. it is inspirational - his courage - his acceptance of what happened.



4. For a real life story it does not get much more real than this, a passion becomes an obsession that takes away the hero status that he was aiming for in the first place? . I found it easy to read. A bit of soft filling in the middle and couldn't really relate to the relationship with his wife.



5. I expected a dramatic book about mountaineering (in the beginning), survival, and determination but got mainly a memoir about family problems, bouts with depression, childhood and earlier climbs. I really tried to like Beck and I do admire his ability to come back from death and recover; but does one need all this drama and trauma to make a man realize that his family and loved ones come first and are the main things in life, and you don't have to climb a giant mountain to understand? In my observations, I always find obsessions a bit weird and off-center in life. In fairness to Beck, the 1996 story has been professionally and strategically told by others, so maybe he and his ghost writer had to fluff up the pages to make a book. There was definitely enough for a great magazine story but a stretch to find over 300 pages to keep the reader interested. Enough said...Beck, hope you're back on the job and helping others like so many helped you. Mabuhay!

5 comments about REBA MY STORY: My Story.

1. I absolutely enjoyed this book. From reading about the high points in her life such as her career, the birth of Shelby and the marriage to Narvel Then reading about the crash in '91 and the divorce from Charlie Battles... It just took me on a complete rollercoaster of emotions. From the moment i picked up the book it felt like i was having a conversation with Reba herself. I could not put the book down. Overall, this was one worth reading.



2. Reading this book makes you realize life isn't always easy. I give her credit for revealing her life story to those people who wanted to know more about her upbringing, her family life and life in general. I'm thankful I had the opportunity to read about her life. I've enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to those people who are interested in knowing what a wonderful person Reba McIntire really is.



3. First of all, I really like Reba's writing style. Its as if you're sitting with an old friend and catching up with whats happening in their lives. That said, the positives end with that. As a fan of Reba's music, I have always been perplexed and annoyed by some of her musical decisions. Obviously I cant be upset about her personal choices in her life, because its her life, she can do what she wants to - but her attempt at sainthood in this sad autobiography was very, very disappointing.
   
   I think Dolly Parton was probably the only country singer who actually sang about her background and childhood with some degree of truth. Here, Reba contradicts herself so often that its hard to empathize. I especially found her account of `that' tragic incident (her entire band killed in an airplane crash) very strange and distant, as if she didn't want to dwell too much on it. She also seems very defensive at various stages in the book, as if the public opinion really did matter so much to her. Then she follows it up by vehemently stating that she doesn't care what people think. I don't know, maybe she's bipolar?
   
   I think the worst part of the book is where Reba defends her relationship with Narvel Blackstock. This was a man that the entire country music industry knew she was having an affair with for almost five years, while she was also married to another man at the same time. In an attempt to sanitize this, Reba gives us curious, vague, and often inexplicable stories of how they NEVER kissed or held hands while she was still married, and how every romantic notion she had about Blackstock came MUCH after her divorce. Really Reba? Are people that stupid, or have you deluded yourself into believing your own version of the truth?
   
   The musical memories are fun though. I always wondered how she came about singing Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy" (one of the all time great songs) and she tells the tale so well. Also, her insecurities and neuroses are very similar to most peoples' but she does come across as very determined and hard-fisted. Perhaps that's why many people think shes a bit of a harlot, but frankly don't read this book if you want to GAIN respect for Reba. I lost much of the respect I had for her after reading this, because it seems that she's taken every major portion of her life and polished it up to an extent that she emerges looking like some sort of heroine. Seriously.
   
   A great work of fiction. An autobiography it is not. Take all of Reba's reminisces with a Manhattan-sized pinch of salt.



4. Reba is strong and can handle anything thrown her way.
   
   This book about her life, one I will keep always, is very interesting and held my attention. I read about Reba's struggles, and things she endured. You wonder how a woman can take so much and keep on going, but that is exactly what she does.
   
   Still to this day, Reba is going strong. I do not want to ruin this book for anyone who has not read it, or wants to know more about Reba. You will find it very interesting to look behind the scene's of Reba's life and how she got to where she is today.
   
   Tracy B. Evans



5. Great inspiration comes from Reba's story. Both of Reba's books read as a personal conversation with her. I hope she puts out yet another book that updates the accomplishments since her last book. If you are a Reba fan or just need to draw inspiration from someone else, get this book, you will not put it down.