5 comments about Next of Kin: What Chimpanzees Tell Us About Who We Are.

1. Although this book was written some time ago, it is exceptionally timely because the relevance of chimp behavior to our own continues to unfold. The devotion the author invests in his charges and the passion he feels about the atrocities visited on chimps both in the laboratory and in the wild drive his story. This abuse is reinforced by the backward and ignorant thinking that stems from bible thumpers who fear the truth about evolution and man's close relationship to apes. Roger Fouts and his wife have provided an invaluable service to our understanding of chimps, and their research related to sign language is truly stunning. They have succeeded in accomplishing their observation and reporting against considerable odds. All these aspects, and the Fouts' fully rounded examination of their subjects make for a gripping and emotional tale well told.



2. At age 62, I still look for writers who will change and deepen my sense of our human nature and our place in the natural world. More than writers about religion per se, I think these writers are able to help us advance our moral and spiritual understanding and reconcile our human/animal natures. For some years I've been reading Goodall and others on primates, but Next of Kin was, for me, a pinnacle illumination. Even if you aren't interested in these types of questions, I think this book will move you deeply. If you ARE interested, may I also suggest the recent Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets.Take Me With You When You Go



3. A must-read for any animal lover. Roger Fouts and the recently deceased chimpanzee Washoe are my heroes.



4. "Next of Kin: My Conversations with Chimpanzees" is one of the most amazing, heartbreaking, and inspirational books I've ever read. The book is written by Roger Fouts, a primatologist who devoted his life to studying the language patterns of chimpanzees. While in graduate school, Roger was introduced to Washoe, a precocious young chimp who became fluent in American Sign Language. Eventually "Project Washoe" expanded to include many chimpanzees, all who learned to communicate with humans using ASL and demonstrated unique personalities, complex emotions, and astounding intelligence.
   
   I've always been a big animal lover, but reading this book taught me so many things that I never knew before. Anyone who questions an animal's ability to think or feel will get a sharp reality check after reading this book. Chimpanzees are people, too, just as much as human beings are. Unfortunately, the majority if humans in this world don't agree with that logic, and thousands of animals, including chimpanzees, are routinely kidnapped from their natural habitats and bred in captivity for the sole purpose of participating in biomedical research. In many cases, medical laboratories house animals in appalling conditions and literally torture them to death. "Next of Kin" details the horrors that go on behind closed doors at biomedical laboratories, and chronicles the steps Fouts and other animal activists have taken to protect chimpanzees from being treated inhumanely.
   
   I absolutely loved this book. Reading it made me feel close to Washoe and her chimpanzee friends, even though I never met any of them before. (Sadly, Washoe passed away last fall at the age of 42, but I hope to visit members of her family at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute in Washington someday.) Parts of this book are incredibly depressing and difficult to read, but hopefully learning about the terrible ways animals are treated will inspire people to take action. I admire everything that Fouts, his family, and his colleagues have done to protect chimpanzees, who are our next of kin on the great evolutionary scale. I hope other readers get as much out of this book as I did.



5. A very readable & enjoyable book. I especially enjoyed the chapter on autism & the origin of language. Fritjof Capra's book "Hidden Connections" referenced this informative & amusing text including the link between brain function involved with hand gesture, signing, & tongue movements that unexpectedly led to the promotion the uptake of speech in autistic.
   There are many insights into the shared psychology of humans & other primates. Despite the physiological and genetic similarities of all primates that have made chimps attractive model organisms for research,it was interesting to read about the reluctance of biological scientists to accept the anthropomorphic traits of chimps. There can be little room for a claim to "value-free" objectivity by biomedical researchers who can apparently dismiss the psychological effects of enforced confinement & sensory deprivation, on the effectiveness of anti-viral medications, or a range of other pharmaceuticals. The author has shown considerable bravery & commitment to expanding this area of learning, despite the threats against his personal career by people with vested interests in ignoring or denying the contradictions to their implicit or explicit values.

5 comments about Running with the Bulls: My Years with the Hemingways.

1. This is yet another "I knew Hemingway when" story. As my title states, I have mixed feelings and opinions about this one. The first portion of the book, where the author is actually with Hemingway and his wife at the time, Mary, is interesting and somewhat informative. It is always interesting (for me anyway) to pick up tidbits of the life of this author, i.e. E. Hemingway. After the death of Hemingway the book sort of goes into a bit of a decline. Some of the interactions with Mary Hemingway were interesting and indeed the horrible, sad story of her marrage (the author's) to Greg Hemingway was, while not facsinating, at least interesting, in a voyeuristic sort of way. I do have several problems with this work though. First, the author is by far one of the most profilfic name droppers I have ever read. This is okay I suppose, but in this work she really goes over the top. In addition (probably, no doubt, due to my complete lack of sophistication), I had no clue who 90 pecent of these people were and, in all truth, could care less. Secondly, the author is simply not consistent, even in matters concerning her own life. She goes from being a simple little Irish girl, to an ultra sophisticated world traveler who is wise in the way of literater, back to being a simple little Irish Girl, over and over and over again. Third, the author seems to hesitate to speak of anything remotely personal and intimate in dealing with E. and Mary Hemingway as if she does not want to break a trust. Hey, they are dead - most of the family is either dead or insane! The writing of this book alone broke a trust, per author's own admission, so why not be a bit more detailed? The book is an obvious effort to make a buck (no hard feelings there, I would have done the same, only earlier), so why not go into a bit more depth? That being said, I am glad I read this work and glad it was written. I just feel it could have been so much more and so much more informative. It did give me more information concerning the life of a great author. For that I am grateful.



2. When a non-literary or semi-literary character gets caught up in the wake of a great writer, an historical event or disaster or what have you, you have to take their memoir as it is. Valerie Hemingway, a teen when she met Hemingway, seems to have been an aspiring journalist and to have done some editing since, though obviously she makes no great claim as a writer. The question is what she has to say, and frankly this writer not only has some new revelations about Hemingway and his family which are more than mere gossip, but posesses a degree of wisdom and balance, all in all something to say about life.
   
   The first half of the book deals with Valerie's relationship with Ernest and Mary Hemingway, in Spain and Cuba, 1959-1961. The author is eerily present in each line Valerie writes, well recognizable from other known accounts, but she adds her own valuable and to some degree deeper take. She was a perceptive girl who Hemingway (who always enjoyed tough young "Summer People" as he once memorably termed them) obviously had good reason to like. But just as obviously it has taken her years to meditate on this material and get it right.
   
   Hemingway's funeral and her meeting with Gregory are then told, including her touchy relationship with Mary Hemingway. Here one perhaps wishes for a little more, but the fact is no one yet has been able to properly get an angle on Hemingway's fox terrier of a fourth wife who stuck it out for hell on earth and was thereby seriously damaged afterwords.
   
   An interlude then concerns the Irish playwright Brendan Behan, by whom Valerie had a son. And finally the rest -- which comes to feel like the majority of the book -- concerns the third "bull" in her life, Ernest's third and tragic son Gregory, whom Valerie married. This seemingly private and sensational story, on the charming Dr.Gregory and his finally all-encompassing transvestism disorder, is nonetheles as relevant to Hemingway studies as the first half of the book. Gregory was the model for one of Thomas Hudson's sons in Islands in the Stream, and the subject behind the meditation in a little known late short story, "I Guess Everything Reminds You of Something." Gregory also wrote his own justly acclaimed take on Ernest which pulled no punches. The product of Ernest's stormy second marriage, there were scars from the beginning which are duly reflected in his realist father's letters and fiction.
   
   Even more relevantly, the whole issue of family illnesses and psychoses, which emerges in the Gregory material, throws light back on Hemingway's fictionalized relationship with his own father in the Nick Adams stories, plus the whole issue of hidden psychic wounds in most major Hemingway characters first explored by the early and pioneering Hemingway critic Phillip Young. The fact is psycho-sexual issues permeate Hemingway biography because they lay under his body of his fiction like an iceberg. Those taking Valerie to task for the revelations herein, and arbitrarily labeling her a goldbrick and the 2nd half of the book as worthless, are simply uninformed. Gregory was apparently the saddest victim of something haunting his family for the three generations that have been documented. Valerie therefore has nothing to be ashamed of. Nor does she ask for your applause, either.
   
   Moreover, her frank story of Gregory Hemingway's obsessive downfall is rather courageous. The very private sort of sexual psychosis Gregory had may well be more common than generally known, and will always likely cause shame and scorn to both the victim and his family to become known. Valerie could therefore only risk exposing herself to ridicule to publish this, and most people would have buckled to that threat. In that case a very important chronicle of a family's struggle with this sort of downfall would not be available. The telling is neither sensational, bitter, nor confused -- it is straight up realism professionally told. It is loving and quite starkly human. It will certainly help families burdened by the same affliction in their midst.



3. A very disturbing book and a strange story but I could not stop reading till I finished. Yet, finally, very disappointing because there is so much left out -- as if too much has not been said. Valerie Hemingway -- whose own story and autobiography seems so very interesting -- never fills in those spaces that explain how she really came to be where she was in the years she describes (both before meeting Hemingway, with Hemingway and her life with his family after his death). It's a great outline for a great book. Hope she writes it someday.



4. Valeries serious and lovingly book about her life as married to one of Hem's sons is also very well written. For all of us still reading about the astonishing life of Hem (there are several 100 around)this one is a must. Don't miss her sound opinions from a life within the family.



5. A balanced and sympathetic description of events from someone who was really there but whose ego does not lead to embellishment of the facts.

No comments about The family : the real story of the Bush dynasty.

5 comments about Raising the Hunley: The Remarkable History and Recovery of the Lost Confederate Submarine.

1. If your interests run to one of the most ingenious achievements in naval history, the gritty determination of desperate men, or simply a good, old-fashioned mystery, this book should captivate you as much as it did me. The authors have sifted through rarified documents and firsthand accounts to present a very intriguing story as only investigative writers in Charleston might. The real merit of this book is its careful, reader friendly presentation of what could otherwise have been an abstruse topic. Here are basic charts, drawings, photos, expert insights, interviews, and personal backgrounds all introduced in historical context. Throughout the book appropriate facts are cleverly recalled and embroidered in the story of the evolving discoveries. When you finally put this book down, you will wish it could have been twice as long and had provided answers to the Hunley's remaining mysteries.



2. An absolutely fascinating book. In depth and accurate historical research
   gives this book its feeling that the authors where there as it happened. A
   work of non-fiction that can be as exciting as a work of fiction, but it is all true !!



3. What an exciting and informative book! Part history, part research, part archealogy, but all joined and very readable. The incredible dedication and bravery of the crews who parished aboard the "fish-boat" deserve the highest honor. These men of the past never gave up, just as the modern day team who had to move natural and govermental mountains to raise her from her watery grave. Since the research is on going and the mysteries haven't been all solved this book does not have the definative answers, I try to log unto the hunley.org site periodically to check for new developments. It's well worth reading by anyone interested in Civil War history, early submarine warfare or archealogy.



4. Straightforward account of the history of the first submarine used in a wartime attack, and the story of its recovery 135 years later after it disappeared following its one and only mission.
   
   Great history, OK writing.



5. We might as well get one thing settled at the first: the Horace L. Hunley was not the "world's first attack submarine," as Charleston newspapermen Brian Hicks and Schuyler Kropf repeatedly call it.
   It might possibly have become that, but on its one combat mission, it approached on the surface and escaped on the surface. Then it sank.
   Nor, as they call it, was it the first "stealth" weapon. There had been stealthy weapons for centuries, and although the Hunley was intended to be stealthy, it failed. It was seen, floating low in the water "like a log," shortly before it drove home its attack, long enough for the crew of USS Housatonic to open ineffective fire.
   The "spar torpedo" (today we would call it a limpet mine) was used effectively by both sides during the Civil War, otherwise attached to rowboats. At least one of these achieved what Hunley did not and mined the CSS Albemarle without being detected.
   As originally designed, the Hunley was an attack submarine. It would dive, towing its mine, go under a target and drag the mine into the hull of the surface vessel, with the Hunley undetected and out of harm's way. It worked, once, in practice in Charleston Harbor.
   Whether it could have worked operationally in the open ocean is unknown, but the hand-cranked submarine was a dead-end technology. Interesting, but not the first step toward a submersible naval weapons system. Even the addition of mechanical power to a Hunley would not have changed that. Once subs got engines, they did not attempt to ram targets.
   Throughout "Raising the Hunley," the authors make overheated claims about the significance of the Hunley, which is too bad. The sober story would have made quite a yarn.
   Although they get details wrong (Hicks and Kropf sink the wrong ship in the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis, among many, many other goofs), the authors appear to be reasonably reliable about the Hunley, since they pored over such documents as are available. Stuff a kid could look up in an encyclopedia, they get wrong.
   The story is odd enough. Hunley, a rich planter, financed the blockade-breaker on his own and drowned in it. The Hunley was the third in a series of three, each apparently more sophisticated than the last. Given the low industrial development of the South, to have developed three generations of "fish-boats" in less than three years was a remarkable achievement.
   This tale, making up half the book -- the better half -- is marred by the authors' ignorance of nautical lingo. Also, by their complete ignorance of physics. The boat could not have been "insulated by the water" from a nearby blast.
   But at least they are able to straighten out some of the legends and mistakes that attached themselves to the Hunley story.
   The second part of the book tells of the hunt for the wreck -- to hear them tell it, there was never a calm day in the sea off Charleston for a generation -- and the recovery and then inspection of the boat.
   The big surprise was that small stalactites were found within the hull. The Hunley did not fill with water and sink at last (although it had done so twice previously, earning the nickname "Peripatetic Coffin"). It sank intact. The crew suffocated, they did not drown.
   Sometimes, often in fact, the authors, who work for the Charleston Post and Courier, succumb to South Carolina's hysteria about the Lost Cause. They need to get a grip. It's the 21st century now.
   Too bad. Hicks and Kropf had probably unique access to the story of the finding and the recovery, as they covered the story as it occurred, so, unless one of the principals ever writes the story, this lousy retelling is likely to be the best we are going to get.

5 comments about Hiding My Candy Cassette.

1. I loved this book. I thought it was very funny, very interesting but the best thing about it is the theme of perseverance and being who you are.

   The Lady Chablis is a wonderful character and so "down to earth" and in your face. Wonderful.

   It moved me to read of all her struggles to get where she is. Very inspiring. Such strength.

   I recommend you read this AND you read Midnight in the Garden of good and evil.

   Enjoy!




2. "Hiding My Candy" was so interesting. The author candidly told us her story. Chablis allowed us into her life by sharing the humor and the pain. Non pretentious, down to earth, occasionally crass, but never boring. Definitely should be on your books to buy list.



3. After seeing Lady Chablis in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", I was looking forward to reading her book. She doesn't hide much in this book. She gives an honest account of how he became a she and even includes some recipes at the end of the book. I found the book very entertaining, although there is some language that isn't really for young people.



4. This is a very honest and straightforward book about The Lady Chablis. I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he couldn't put it down. He told me I "had to read this book". I couldn't put it down either. It also has a lot of humor. If you've read the book or seen the movie Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil, you can relate to Lady Chablis and the people and places of Savannah.



5. If you have read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" you certainly remember one of the most fascinating and intriguing characters of the book. And now it is time to learn all her secrets!
   
   The book starts with a wonderful introduction by Berendt where he explains how he met Lady Chablis, and from that point it is all her. The Lady entertains us with her claims, like the one about being the protagonist of the best two chapters of The Book, and leaves us in awe with some of her stories, like the ones about men's reactions to finding out about her T.
   
   The narrative is so vivid that it feels as if we were listening to the Lady speak as in the movie. Of course, it helps having being able to see her play herself in the film, because like she says, she "...wouldn't have it any other way".
   
   The switches in mood throughout the book help keep the reading engaging. At times we find sections with a very serious tone, in which she addresses issues like her family's reaction to her true self, the decision of losing her candy and the relationship with a variety of men, ranging from caring to abusive. At other times, she livens up the mood and starts firing funny anecdotes and jokes that make us laugh out loud.
   
   If you have read or watched "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" you owe it to yourself to find the T behind this fascinating character. I certainly enjoyed the ride.

5 comments about Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII.

1. David Starkey's 'Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII' is obviously a highly researched piece of work. I've read many Tudor biographies, and this is by far the most extensive I have ever laid eyes on. But unfortunately I have more bad than good to say about it.
   
   What good I can say is trivial. It's a large, long book that takes some concentration and thought to get through. Starkey knew his material well before getting down to business, although I don't believe he wrote about everything he could have. In the space of 765 pages (not counting the index and notes, which took an additional 80+ pages) there is so much information on the politics of Henry VIII's marriages, one cannot help but feel some awe. But that is where the interest ends for me as a reader. Unlike with the Tudor biographies of Alison Weir and Antonia Fraser, I wasn't drawn into the story in the least. And this is where the bad begins.
   
   Where should I start? First of all, the book is completely unbalanced. Well over 300 pages are devoted to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, while barely 40 explain the relationship with Anne of Cleves. The same can be said for the story of Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Perhaps there really is much, much more to the relationship between Boleyn and Henry Tudor, but I still believe that a balance could have been found and more depth explored with Henry's other wives.
   
   Many reviewers have lashed out against Starkey's language and grammar. While I'm no English expert, I must agree that it's difficult to "get into" the story and stay focused on Starkey's writings. And yes, he does tend to ask too many questions and doesn't hesitate to express his opinion, and stick with it, over historical facts.
   
   And last for this review, but certainly not least and not the truly last of my personal complaints against the book, is Starkey's blatant disregard for other historians and authors. In his introduction, he denounces the books of Fraser and Weir (with author names), which totally lacks class and respect and in my opinion. And that's far from the only time he does such a thing. I remember at one point in the book, just after the birth of Elizabeth (daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn), Starkey denounced, with a bit of cool arrogance, the "unsubstantiated" claim that Anne wanted to breast-feed Elizabeth but Henry wouldn't allow it. I won't deny that I have read about this before and that I really don't know if it's true or not, as I am not a hard-core historian. But I am curious as to why Starkey believes, as he seems to in many sections of his book, that his is the one and only true version of events. How does he know that? And just because there is no hard evidence for certain events, how does Starkey know that they did or didn't happen?
   
   PBS created a mini-series based on Starkey's book (Starkey himself narrated) which turned out to be worse than the book. It's a sorry thing that a book so long and informative should turn out so uninteresting, but it did.



2. Starkey's writing is terrible! First off, he thinks his view is the one, true, right one and all other Tudor biographers got it wrong! He has an annoying habit of making ridiculous assuptions about the personalities of the queens. He puts them into misogynistic,cartoonish categories--he dismisses Jane Seymour as a boring, mousey doormat, then speculates whether that was all really a *calculated act* on her part! I guess that's the only way she could be interesting to him as he seems to relish the conniving/bitchy/vamp portraits he paints of Ann Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Starkey supposes that 16th c. queens reacted to certain situations in a flippant manner as would modern teenagers, or teens on the "O.C." This is so ridiculous. These were patriarchal times and these queens were literally fighting for their lives. I can't believe some people loved this steaming pile of poop! This book is a waste of time and money! It isn't fit to line my bird's cage!



3. Friends, this is an excellent book. If you were to watch his DVD series on Elizabeth and other Tudor monarchs, you would clearly see that David Starkey is an excellent scholar, has an outstanding grasp of the Tudor monarchs, is quite articulate, and can take the highly complex issues and explain them in a very understandable way. This book is no exception. It is very intelligently written, is helpful, and not just a rehash of other scholars.
   
   I find Megan's reveiw of this book so far from reality and utterly foolish as to be offensive. Her suggestion that one could learn as much from a story book is utterly absurd. Undoubtedly, her review must be the result not only of pure bias but also of pure inebriation.



4. I read this book with great deal relish in thinking that I might get fresh perception on the history of the six wives of Henry VIII. What I found was an easy to read, easy to understand, well researched but highly opinionated book. I think the author tries so hard to be different from other historians and books on this subject that he managed to turned opinions and conjuctures into facts as he see it.
   
   Most of the book deals with two wives, Katherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn. The rise, love and fall of both women who dominated much of Henry's life takes up much of the author's book. The rest of the four wives, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr all got parred down, almost like an summarized aftermath after the two main events. I always thought each woman was pretty unique. (Henry seems to like "Katherine or Catherine as a name in his women.)
   
   This book also proves to be dominated by Henry VIII as he's in almost every single page once he's crowned. From this book, the reader will have a good understanding about how Henry deals with his interpersonal relationship with his wives. You may have a better understanding of Katherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn even if you may not agreed with many of the author's opinions. But after that, the rest of the four wives adds nothing to what lies published before this book.
   
   I would recommend Allison Weir or Antonia Fraser books on this subject initially. I would recommend this book only for experienced readers of this subject matter. Reason for that is that the author proves to be too opinionated in his writing and it would be best if you read this book if you got a good grounding on the subject.



5. David Starkey's "Six Wives" is very engaging and easy to read, despite the intimidating weight of the hardcover. Starkey is a brilliant historian and he breathes life into his subjects as he covers their life and times. He is an expert on all things Elizabethan and readers can trust that his interpretation of events always has extensive research behind it. The few pages of prints in the center of the book are a nice addition, though personally, I wish there were illustrations of the various castles and manors as well as the formal portraits we are given.

5 comments about Measure of a Man, The: A Spiritual Autobiography.

1. Brilliantly written novel! But than nothing less could be expected from Sidney Poitier. Also for all of you that are learning English as a second language it is an example of modern American English at its best. This is as good as it gets!



2. I read this book and I loved it. It is a moving story about Poitiers early life in the Bahamas, how poor people lived, racism, his bout with prostate cancer, friends,family, and film career. It is a well written book and I absolute love Sidney Poitier as an actor and a man. I loved his movies Lillies of the Field, Heat of the Night, Patch of Blue, Blackboard Jungle, and To Sir with Love which are some of the ones I enjoyed watching on tv. He is such a versatile actor and writer and handsome too. My 81 year old Mother loves him too. I cant wait to pick up the book that he wrote about his grand grandaughter (MESSAGES). For those of you who love Sidney Poitier, or a great biographical read. GET THIS BOOK. Wonderfully written and moving.



3. I very much enjoyed this book. This book focuses on his life, and his decision-making, and what he has learned through the journey. It is a good way to get some biographical information about him, and to see him as a real person - a normal person, not an actor. If you are looking for a lot of tidbits about his acting career, you might want to try another book. This book touches on those things, but it is not the focus. Very good read.



4. He has a nice voice, but he's boring. My husband was listening and gave up on the CD about an hour before me. I tried to stick with it...but after a while I felt as though I was watching grass grow. It was a total waste of money in my opinion.



5. His roles in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) and To Sir, with Love (1967) were for their time landmarks in the breaking down of social barriers between blacks and whites, and Poitier's talent, conscience, integrity, and inherent likability placed him on equal footing with the white stars of the day. He took on directing and producing chores in the Seventies, achieving success in both arenas. Although he has reduced the frequency of his roles in recent years, he remains one of the most respected and beloved figures in American cinema of the twentieth century.

5 comments about Adrift (Bookcassette(r) Edition).

1. Absolutely fascinating, informative, a must for any sailor, and highly recommended for anyone heading out to sea.



2. Because of the horrible writing style I couldn't get past twenty pages. It was so mercilously annoying to struggle through the author's short, choppy sentences. His story might have been intriguing, but he should have hired a professional ghost writer. Put it aside for 'Lost' which is a much better written book.



3. I loved reading this book. The author has an amazing determination. Many times throughout the story, he was in a pinch and on the brink of disaster and death, but he fought and decided he was going to survive no matter what it took. He is a very intelligent person, judging by some of the assessments and solutions he came up with during the experience. He also has incredible will-power. Read the book if you love survival stories such as this.



4. I ordered this book on a whim. It's not usually my sort of fare but Callahan had me from the start and I had a hard time putting it down. Day by day, struggle by struggle, every new experience gave you either a sense of tremendous triumph or total despair. I was rooting for Callahan through out the book. I caught my self laughing out loud several times and twitching my feet nervously at others.
   
   Steven Callahan did one of the best jobs in all of adventure writing at bringing the reader into his little life-raft world. It was amazing to see an entire eco-system develop around his orange raft and how he interacted with it.
   
   Truly an amazing book and an amazing journey. Be forewarned, you'll feel lost at sea with Callahan!



5. Adrift is the true story of Steven Callahan, whose small boat sunk in the Atlantic Ocean, after he floats on his inflatable raft for 76 days before finally being rescued.
   
   
   This is right out of one of my favorite genres - true life survival stories. The story starts slow, but once he has to abandon his boat sinks and he is has to really start surviving, it is very engaging. I greatly enjoyed reading of all the details of his water-gathering, shark-deterring, fishing and storm riding.
   
   I am pretty sure I would have died about day 20. Great reading for anyone interested in this genre. Other favorites from this genre include "The Long Walk", "We Die Alone" and "Alive".

5 comments about Ranch of Dreams: The Country's Most Unusual Sanctuary, Where Every Animal Has a Story.

1. I guess I just expected more from this book. I wanted more personal experiences and more discussions of individual animals that had been brought to the ranch. I feel that the book was to "general" in its approach. It just wasn't personal enough.



2. Having never read anything by Cleveland Amory before I was quite surprised to learn of Black Beauty Ranch in East Texas.Ranch of Dreams opened my eyes to what really goes on behind the circus tents,most haunting and heartwrenching the cruel treatment of the elephants,ripped from their mothers and herds and beaten into submission.Dear Mr Amory;he passed before writing a follow up book. The book is well worth the read,a lesson in human compassion,and when you are finished,pass it on to a friend.



3. Cleveland Amory wrote of his beloved cat Polar Bear, "Heaven will be no heaven for me if Polar Bear is not there."

   I say heaven will be no heaven for me if Cleveland Amory is not there. Anyone with even a small soft spot in his heart cannot fail to be moved by the stories of the Black Beauty Ranch and the animals of various species that call it home.

   Someone recently asked me what I'd do if I didn't need to work for a living. I think I'd want to go to Murchison, Texas and help care for the ranch's residents.




4. I absolutely loved this book. Although difficult to handle when reading about the abuse of animals, it is so well written that you just can't put it down. Cleveland's sense of humor shows through his writing and makes this book a must-read! And, if you haven't been to the Ranch of Dreams - you must go!!! Black Beauty Ranch in TX is the most beautiful place in the world - and the beauty is so much more than what meets the eye!



5. I generally enjoyed "Ranch of Dreams" - what animal lover couldn't? Heartwarming stories of animal rescues written in a quick and oftentimes witty style.
   
   However, it is that same writing style that occasionally brings Amory from the respectable "pro-animal" into the realm of "anti-human." He becomes argumentative and defensive at times, making me want to argue right back, despite the fact that I agree with him.
   
   Despite this, Amory's book is a worthwhile read, though I would recommend seeking out a cheap used copy and spending the money you save on "Best Friends: The True Story of The World's Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary," another lovely book on saving animals in need.

5 comments about Confessions of a Spy: The Real Story of Aldrich Ames.

1. Ames was unduly lucky to have not been "netted" much sooner. Mr. Earley gives us a very well written piece of work.Ames was certainly not Kim Philby or 007;but He did get away with His betrayal for some years,and that alone makes it worthy for any 20th Century Historian. The little tidbit of a quite 'hot potato'betrayal story on Henry Kissenger is worth the cost of the book alone.Earley is also fair to Ames'American employers at CIA who finally pinch "the mole".



2. Step by step we are moving to the truth.
   The fiction is banal. Hence - one star for the book. The reality is amazing. Hence - 5 stars for the next book on the Ames-Colby case. The next book will be based on Dekov's memoirs.



3. I was reading "See No Evil" by Robert Baer and he briefly mentioned Aldrich Ames and decided to read a book on him. While looking for books, I was pleasantly surprised to find one written by Pete Earley. I had read "The Hot House" a couple of years ago and found Earley to be a very clear and detailed writer. I really could not wait to receive the book. My expectations were high and they were met and exceeded. The book details Ames' life from birth, it details his parents, his entry into the CIA, and ultimately his betrayal of the country. The thing I love about Earley is that he leaves no loose ends. You're never left saying, "but what ever happened to..." or "I wonder who that is...". He's a very clear writer who introduces every subject in the book. He explains the facts sharply and thoroughly, and the pacing is perfect. Earley not only gives you the details, but draws you in with a story line that adds suspense. Earley is similar to other great non-fiction writers such as Stephen Ambrose, Jon Krakauer, Simon Winchester, Mark Bowden, or Kurt Eichenwald in that he takes a real event and tells it gripping way.
   
   On the negatives, there was not an index in my book which made it difficult at times. Also, Earley was not able to get interviews with everyone involved, in particular Ames' first wife, but at the time I'm sure not everyone wanted to participate with the media.
   
   The most important aspect of the book is that Aldrich Ames cooperated with Earley with face to face interviews while awaiting trial and later through letters. But Earley did not take everything Ames told him at face value, he is not lazy or sloppy, he fact checked and questioned everything. He even fact checked with Russian KGB which demonstrates how dedicated he was to the subject. Is it definitive? Definitely not because it came out so quickly after Ames arrest (before revelations of Robert Hanssen) but it is an excellent book.



4. This is the only text I have read that provides a compelling and nuanced explanation of why Ames betrayed his country. The short answer is that he needed the money because he was living beyond his means. As a result of his work recruiting and handling spies he no longer believed it was wrong for a person to betray their country. Earley's well-written book explains how he arrived at that point. It also provides the reader with a credible look at what it is like to work for the CIA, and what it is like to work as a spy.



5. This gives the best account of Ames' CIA career, particularly prior to the time he began to work for the Soviet Union, and corrects errors in several earlier books such as Wise's.