5 comments about Make Gentle the Life of This World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy.

1. For those who missed the time in which those now called "Reagan Democrats" and those opposed to the ongoing war in Vietnam were inspired by the same voice, especially who cannot even begin to imagine how that could be, this small book is a must-read that will enable you to experience what is possible through inspiring [rather than angry divisive cynical] leadership.
   
   Some quotes from the book, which seems as if it could have been written this morning:
   
   "An understanding of what America really stands for is going to count far more than missiles, aircraft carriers, and supersonic bombers."
   
   "Insurgency aims not at the conquest of territory but at the allegiance of man. ... Counterinsurgency might best be described as social reform under pressure...any effort that becomes pre-occupied with gadgets and techniques and force is doomed to failure."
   
   "Thus does false principle destroy the credibility of our wisdom and purpose that is the true foundation of influence as a world power."
   
   "America was a great force in the world, with immense prestige, long before we became a great military power. That power has come to us and we cannot renounce it, but neither can we afford to forget that the real constructive force in the world comes not from bombs but from imaginative ideas, warm sympathies, and a generous spirit.
   These are qualities that cannot be manufactured by specialists in public relations.
   They are the natural qualities of a people pursuing decency and human dignity in its own undertakings without arrogance or hostility or delusions of superiority toward others, a people whose ideals for others are firmly rooted in the realities of the society we have build for itself."
   
   "Whatever the costs to us, let us think of the young men we have sent there: not just the killed, but those who have to kill; not just the maimed, but those who must look upon the results of what they do."
   
   [AND, to remind us not to sink into frustrated despair at our current mean-spirited divisive administration, RFK's words spoken in courage during the dark days of Apartheid in South Africa:]
   "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
   
   "Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of those acts will be written the history of this generation."



2. Anyone who is ever at a point in their life where they are doing any type of soul-searching would find the thoughts and words expressed here invaluable. After experiencing the worst tragedy, Robert Kennedy makes an incredible change....inside and then outside. Those of us who were not alive or old enough to remember do have books and videos to try and tell us his story. But his son goes beyond that and really gives us something more by sharing all the ideas that made up the man.
   
   If you are looking for info about RFK, well, you'll get something here....BUT...even more, this book will help you grow and become a better human being...and maybe even become that "tiny ripple of hope" in your world.



3. This is an excellent selection of Robert F. Kennedy's words. It's amazing how applicable RFK's ideas are to our own times.



4. I liked this book. I give this book 5 stars. This book gave me the chance to read some of his thoughts that he had recorded in his personal journal(daybook). One quote that I really liked is " I know there is a God and that he hates injustice. I see the storm coming and I see His hand in it. If He has a place and part for me, I am ready". For me, it has renewed my sense that I as well as my country need to get up from the sleep or the spell we our under that has led us down the wrong path, and get active again in trying to get this country on the right path.



5. Robert Kennedy is one of my heroes. I believe his death did not take away the meaning of his life, which is excellently expressed in this book. I have about 20 books on RFK and this is my runaway favorite. If you own only it should be this; you will learn everything you need to know about how and why he lived his life.

5 comments about From Binge to Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking.

1. This book was very educational and informative. A MUST READ for anybody struggling with alcoholism or who has a loved one struggling with the disease. Very realistic and honest.



2. As a high school counselor and child of an alcoholic I found this to be a great resource both personally and professionally. Your candid account of your journey for information and for recovery has already given me insights to help my students and their parents.
   Thank you both,



3. I found this to be extremly informative , seeing both sides of bing drinking and the perceptions of the family as well as the Alcoholic. I read this while my son (who also asked for help) was in rehab for his 21st birthday. He is now reading my copy. I found I could identfy with alot of the thoughts/situations as well as the codependent/alcoholic behaviors. As I work on my codependence and my son works on his sobriety I strongly encourage anyone with a teen/young adult afflicted with this disease to read this book.



4. I bought this book for myself and my 18 year old son to read before he left for college this fall. I read it first and then let him read it. The Volkmann family did a great job of communicating to the reader the dangers of teenage drinking. My son went to numerous parties during high school where alcohol was present. Our son told us about the drinking going on at these parties and I began to realize what a serious problem exists concerning teenage drinking. I hope that many parents will read this book and realize that teenage drinking is not something to be taken lightly. Many parents do not realize what can happen to their teens who take part in this dangerous activity. I encourage any parents of a teen to read this book and then make their teen read it as well and then discuss the book with your child.



5. This book should be read by every parent who has pre-teen/teen kids and should be made a mandatory book in every high school. It is a true eye opener and very insperational.

5 comments about The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia.

1. The story of a young girl and her family's trials of living in Siberia during WWII. It is an excellent book to include with a unit study of the Holocaust. The author weaves the truth along with some humor. Excellent!



2. I, too, read this book in elementary school and while it took me forever to find it, I'm so glad I did. Esther is a young girl when her family is taken from Poland to the Siberian Steppe during WWII. The story chronicles one of loss, love, and the strength of family in times of need. You also get to take part in Esther's growth from a child to a young woman in the face of adversity. A definite must-read for anyone, young person or adult.



3. Hautzig wrote a wonderful novel, placing you in the heart & mind of a young girl. Tragic story on many levels. Definitely recommend it to upper elementary or jr. high students.



4. An amazing and brave book, worthy of greater publicity. For many years during and just after WWII it was politically incorrect (to say the least) to indicate that Hitler was not the only monster in the 20th century. At the time when the USSR was still more or less our ally it was indeed a brave act for Ms. Hautzig to point out that the dealings of the Soviets were just as dark as those of the Nazis. By recent estimates at least 60 million people died during the Stalinist dictatorial rule, but it is seldom that one sees a memorial dedicated to these victims. Many Americans cannot believe even today, that these horrors actually happened.
   While I was teaching in a US Department of Defense School in Germany, my class read the Diary of Anne Frank. We even traveled to Amsterdam, and visited the home, where she and her family were hiding. It was a never to be forgotten, poignant experience; my students were deeply touched.
   During this time I happened to come across Esther Hautzig's The Endless Steppe, and made it a point that my class read that too, in order to see the parallel. Stalin's monstrosities do not diminish those of Hitler, or Mao, but a cultured person has a need to perceive all events in balance, without the distortions or exclusions dictated by a current political posture.



5. terrific book, just the reality type show we need instead of bimbos and druggies. this touches on the real things of life.

5 comments about Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood.

1. I bought this book for my Soon-To-Be bride daughter. She really likes Natoro books. She thinks this is a really good book infused with good humor. She recommends it to all!



2. "Autobiography of a Fat Bride" by Laurie Notaro, © 2003
   
   You know this old lady sounds like me, self-deprecating and all. She is funny. I laughed out loud to read some of the stuff she wrote, and that is odd, I usually just enjoy the thought, not laugh. This is sort of a study in psychology: why is she so adamant about her weight or her job? In Phoenix, I can imagine her worries about her lawn. Only rich people have lawns in Arizona, though I heard it said (by a cousin) that lawns make the temperature go down (around a house), it stills holds: only rich people have lawns.



3. I actually had to throw the book into the garbage before I even got half-way through.....I just don't get all the great reviews.....Unless you are still in high school, have half a brain and no sense of humor, this book should not appeal to most people. I would give it a negative number if I could.



4. Very funny book--think Erma Bomback on crack. Found myself (52 year old grandma) laughing out loud.



5. This is my first Laurie Notaro book and it was by random fate that it got thrown into my carry-on bag while packing for a trip to the beach. I got some funny looks and even some comments about the interesting title. To be fair, most people probably overheard me laughing out loud, gasping, or shaking my head and saying "oh my gosh" because the book is so genuinely funny. I easily found myself engrossed with the whacky, loveable, relatable main character.
   
   The book reads almost like a set of fifty or so short stories, which is perfect for those with short attention spans or if you only have a few minutes to spare it is great to fit in a chapter or two. Although the book is made of short chapters, Notaro dos a good job of tying in bits and pieces from the whole book and keeps the reader engaged.
   
   This book absolutely exceeded my expectations. It's not another typical froofy girly book for and about brainless twenty-somethings. As a twenty something, I really could appreciate this book, but I think that a mature younger crowd or a youthful older crowd could easily enjoy this book just as much. Autobiography of a Fat Bride is a genuinely good read. Creative, engaging, funny... I look forward to checking out more of Laurie Notaro. If you're looking for a fun refreshingly good book, check this one out.

5 comments about Living History.

1. When I tried to buy a book on Hillary Clinton that wasn't by someone with a political axe to grind, it was tough. Obama was everywhere. Finally I decided to see what she herself had to say so I could judge for myself. I had to look hard for her book in a physical bookstore. Amazon has it in its bargain books. I think this says something about how we think we know Hillary Clinton and unless there is more dirt, we don't want to read what she has to say. I am glad I read this.
   
   I found this book much better written than Obama's The Audacity of Hope, although that title is great. Clinton's memoir is definitely from her perspective; it's not Truth capital T, but it's honest and forthright. It's warm and humorous, and occasionally she gets frustrated. You won't learn new things about the Bill Clinton Whitehouse per se, but I did learn new things about Hillary. This book is intelligent and insightful.



2. Hillary tells it like it is! She is a wonderful person who works hard everyday to help others around her reach their goals while achieving her own! She is going to make a great frist women perident!! This is a must own CD!!



3. Most conservatives give this book 1 star. Why? EVERY conservative should read this book. Now if I were judging it purely as a memoir, let's just say that James Frey has nothing on Hillary Clinton when it comes to "embellishment" (or should we call it "mis-writing"?).
   
   But for those conservatives who know how to do a web search or two, this book is rife with useful material. Contrast her story of Watergate versus Jerry Zeifman's account, for instance. Or read pages 440, 448, 465-466 on her account of how she and Chelsea learned about Monica Lewinski (and then ask after repeating the names Juanita Broaddrick, Elizabeth Ward, Paula Corbin, Kathleen Wiley, Gennifer Flowes, Paula Jones, etc. "So, you're telling me that this is how it went down? OK, so choose -- is she the dumbest woman in America or the biggest liar?").
   
   For a real laugh, read her account of Whitewater -- seriously, if you read this out loud, people would think you're doing a comedy routine.
   
   And her rewriting of the history of her health insurance debacle and the aftermath is priceless. Her tales of Bill's leadership and how she was a support are gems.
   
   EVERY conservative should buy several colors of highlighters and read this book (preferably alongside a copy of Dick Morris' Rewriting History). Besides, with every book purchase, you get a free dartboard (the cover).



4. So many people want to give their opinion of Hillary and not the book itself. I found the book extremely interesting and informative and the information she provides about all of the things she learned as First Lady I do feel made her perfectly well suited to become President. She knows all the appointments that need to be made, all the jobs that need to be filled, and she's learned what types of comments and actions can get you in trouble while in the White House. I find her incredibly smart and had no idea of all the different issues that she is familiar with and all the people and friends she has made over the years who can and do give her insight. All in all a delightful book and a good read.



5. A Memoir Review: Living History
   By Hillary Clinton
   
   Upon witnessing abridged television clips of Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign speeches, I made the ignorant assumption the Presidential hopeful was clueless: "she's the wife of a former President; based on what professional formation does she speak?" The impression was unjustifiable. I considered her candidacy an attempt to re-establish the family name given former President Bill Clinton's embarrassing impeachment. Politics, after all, is much more than meets the eye, and as I discovered via the woman's autobiographical memoir Living History, Hillary Rodham Clinton is certainly much more than meets the eye.
   
   My primary reason to pick up Clinton's book was to learn about her political career--nevertheless, the work covers her early life extensively. This is appropriate, and crucial to set the context of her years as an executive. The initial chapters are engaging: not only are they an insightful look into Hillary as a young woman, but also an insightful look at being an American youth in the sixties. Clinton's extensive resume is testament to her scholarly knowledge, and her presence behind the scenes at The White House contributes to an equally significant practical knowledge. Hearing of her pioneering speech at Wellesley College, the first student to have ever given a commencement address, her entry into the all-male Rose Law Firm, and her intertwining of typically hardball politics and compassionate child work made me recognize Hillary Rodham was bound for a high-profile political career long before meeting William Jefferson Clinton.
   
   Clinton's writing embodies humanistic qualities, as if she is still an accessible advocate for everyday hiring. This fact is emphasized by her commentary on routine activities, and her naming of each political associate with which she worked. This latter aspect truly fleshes out the memoir--regardless, the squat descriptions of her colleagues sound unappealingly phoney. Everybody in Arkansas seems to be a close friend of the couple: "As soon as Bill and I became a couple, they became friends of mine. And their sons became close to Chelsea" (Clinton 105). Speaking of partner Sara Ehrman, a member of Senator McGovern's legislative staff, "We sized each other up and decided we would enjoy the ride together, and it was the start of a friendship that endures today" (Clinton 60).
   
   Alluding to "businessman and longtime politico" Jim McDougal, he "was a character: charming, witty and eccentric as the day is long" (Clinton 87). Admiring former Mayor of Little Rock, "Webb Hubbell was a big, burly, likeable man" (Clinton 80). Referring to trip director Kelly Craighead, "she had a lot of insight, dedication and spunk." Clinton chooses three formulaic adjectives to describe each of her acquaintances, and the mechanical style soon becomes tedious. The technique corroborates the "safeness" of Clinton's autobiography: nothing shocking, nor a "tell-all"--simply reserved commentary of nationally and personally historic moments. Understandable, since she would be running for President six years later. In this sense, I do believe there were ulterior motives for the memoir's release; the 2003 year of publishing was opportunely timed for Clinton's 2008 candidacy. The latter stipulation supports my learning that a Presidential campaign begins as soon as one shakes hands with the lowest-ranking political official twenty years from an official convention, and that one's private life will be increasingly scrutinized and distorted.
   
   There is little mention of the financial burden statewide and national elections place on nominees, which I found surprising given Bill Clinton's numerous campaigns. This is insight I was looking forward to reading about, given its increasing importance in our visually driven and electronic society.
   
   Though I have not reached the chapters focussing on the infamous Whitewater scandal, nor her conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt, I have already changed my impression of Hillary Rodham Clinton: she is a well-informed Democrat, whose has consistently demonstrated her leadership skills. Clinton is an activist currently living in manner she has promoted all her life, literally living history.

5 comments about The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic.

1. This is an eye-opening book of lives diverted or interrupted, many by mere social missteps which resulted in life-long incarceration (AKA "commitment"). The pathos is almost tangible, especially upon viewing the long-lost items harbored in dusty suitcases left behind in the state hospital attic. It reminded me of what I felt and imagined upon viewing the artifacts of passage on display at Ellis Island.
   
   The editing of this book is abyssmal. I had to resist taking pen in hand to suggest re-ordering of paragraphs and note corrections. That being said, the book is still a worthy and engrossing read.



2. This powerful book documents the lives of people who were marginalized and forgotten. The authors took the opportunity to honor, respectfully, the individuals who were locked away and treated as though they didn't matter. The case notes illustrate just how much the "professionals" refused to see beyond the diagnostic lens, to the real person facing extraordinary challenges.
   
   This is relevant today because it still happens today. Having worked as an advocate for people confined to state mental hospitals, I can testify that there is a disproportionate number of individuals of color, individuals who came from other countries, individuals whose culture and traditions differ from the accepted norm. Rather than recognizing trauma and helping survivors recover, we label people and drug them, often condemning them to a lifetime of disability. Even though we don't keep them in the hospital for the rest of their lives, many lives are wasted through overmedication, hopelessness, and learned helplessness. This constitutes institutionalization in the community. Penney and Stastny have done a great service to the people they memorialized in this book: they gave them a name and a story.



3. "The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic" is a straightforward book about an ugly part of our history. Its power, however, is that it demands that we look at the here and now. By clearly and simply reconstructing what little CAN be reconstructed of the lives of souls forgotten in a huge mental institution the authors left me with a haunting question: where are we stashing and forgetting the troubled souls of this generation? The answer is to be found in our prisons, under our bridges, in isolated board and care homes ....... and?
   
   Darby Penney and Peter Stazny, in this book, in their museum exhibition, on the "suitcases" web-site and in displays and presentations around the country, have given back something of what was taken from the individuals who were committed and consigned to the anonymity of large institutions. It is up to us to see that the "taking" ends in whatever form it occurs.



4. The book consists of a conundrum of stories, as deducted by the authors from the suitcase contents (!) and case notes of former long-term patients in a state mental health institution. The authors' agenda becomes clear after reading a few pages in this book - they do not approve of state mental health institutions, disqualify them as inhumane, and attempt to explain away the chronic and persistent mental health issues that led many patients to be admitted there in the first place as mere alternative lifestyles minimized and explained away by the treating 'traitors'. Religious delusions, for example, are termed as 'spiritual turmoil'.
   
   This is in no way a realistic picture of the mental health field. Reality is that some of our patients simply require long-term care. Period. A more reasonable take can be obtained from the new book by E.F. Torrey "The insanity offense" where a clear argument is made, backed by epidemiological data, that the closure (now lack) of long-term facilities, while well-intended by liberals - for issues of 'humanity' - and by conservatives for 'cost-considerations', has gone awry. There is in fact an unprecedented wave of mentally ill patients who now occupy our prison system, for example, or who bounce back and forth between acute hospitalizations and highly structured living situations.
   
   In essence, a very polemic ill-advised book, that fails to address the truly important issue we face: how to provide the best and most appropriate care for our most ill mental health patients. The authors strongly argue against structure, but fail to provide any alternatives whatsoever.



5. Not one review before mine gave a score of "average". Folks either really like this book or absolutely hate it. The numerous errors and typos were easy to spot. The authors quickly established that they had "an axe to grind". But in most of their observations they were talking about institutional care of the past, rather than the current system. Not to say that events upon which they report aren't still happening. I do think the authors do a reasonable job of showing that a number of the cases upon which they report did not have a "wretched" before Willard. Examples such as "She is in a [private boarding] home and refused to leave after being ordered out and used vulgar and obscene language" seems pretty weak as justification for a lifetime of institutional commitment. And it does seem clear that the culture of the time resulted in very little timely research regarding the underlying reasons behind the patient's abnormalities. I do not share the view that these folks would have been upset with their stories being told, in fact with varying degrees, those that could think coherently would have probably welcomed it.

3 comments about The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Concise Edition.

1. In purchasing this book, I was expecting to find something similar to the second volume of the Norton Anthology of American Literature. Unfortunately, I found this book to be far inferior. It has works by some of America's most highly commended authors, and has some great short stories. However, the excerpts from authors' longer works seem to be lacking; there should either be longer excerpts or more poingnat scenes should have been chosen. The anthology spends far too much time describing eras, and not enough in inserting major works. Some of the breakdowns/characterizations of the peices included are awkward, and tends to underrate the authors by putting them in sectionss that degrade their work.



2. The book was at or better than what I expected(condition). The price was right. The book arrived within 5 days, this, during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I can't say enough about that. Thanks



3. This second volume of American Literature is quite excellent in it's editing and information. The writers read like a who's who of American fiction of over the last couple of centuries. The various writers, poets, authors, and others who have contributed whether it be a poem, a short story, or an essay is enormous. I had this book for American Literature II class in college. The writing in this book reflects America's taste for the various cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual preferences, backgrounds, histories, and tales of everything from identity to immigration to slavery, etc. The stories and poems in this anthology can only help us better understand America. I would give this a 5 but I think it should be a hardcover rather softcover because I got an overly used copy which fell apart in time but I would recommend this book for any high school language arts teacher and as a great library reference book.

2 comments about Cecil B. DeMille: A Life in Art.

1. Even if you have never seen one of his films, you probably recognize the name of Cecil B. DeMille as synonymous with big, epic moviemaking. It's inarguable that with a silent and a sound _The Ten Commandments_, a _Cleopatra_, or a _Samson and Delilah_, DeMille was at home with making colossal pictures. But Simon Louvish in _Cecil B. DeMille: A Life in Art_ (Thomas Dunne Books) demonstrates that there was a lot more to the director than big-scale movies. In fact, although Louvish recognizes that opinions about any movie are arguable, he finds only a few of DeMille's sound pictures really good. The great works, Louvish argues, were among the fifty-two silent films, social comedies and commentaries that were ahead of their time, and of which according to Louvish, "even the most uneven contain moments of brilliance and scenes of finely crafted technical prowess." Sadly, many of these films are gone forever (unless some trove shows up unexpectedly), and some Louvish has only been able to see within film archives, but others have been restored and put onto DVDs. If you are a movie fan, and are interested in a broader view of DeMille's output, you'll put them on your must-see list after reading this careful, big, and well-documented book. It is an unauthorized biography: "The estate of Cecil B. DeMille informed me that it could not assist me in my endeavor." That's not too surprising; DeMille was an intimidating and hypocritical man whose personal behavior was often odious, and he put his bad characteristics into service in getting his films out.
   
   "You are here to please me," he told his crews, "Nothing else on earth matters." He dressed the part of a commander, in riding boots, puttees, slouch hat, and corduroy pants, an image of the generic director that has been caricatured ever since. He would doff his jacket and drop it, knowing a hired attendant would catch it before it hit the floor. He sat down whenever he wanted, and never had to check to see if there was a chair beneath him, because there was a chair boy hovering behind him. The other part of his drive was targeting himself: "Despite the consistent stories of DeMille's incessant bullying and the human casualties that peeled off right and left, both crew and cast of his movies could see that the boss drove himself harder than any of his satraps and minions." His films often touted conventional morality, but Charlton Heston (and Theodore Roberts before him in the silent version) did tote down tablets that included an injunction against adultery. DeMille himself had serial mistresses and plenty of female associates, which everyone referred to as his "harem". Religion and sex were mixed up in many of his films and made him hugely rich and powerful. He got the introduction to religion from his father, a staunch Episcopalian who as actor and playwright introduced him also to the stage, although he would have preferred that DeMille enter a solid trade like running a grocery. DeMille was quickly intoxicated with the huge scope that the movies could take in, far grander than what could be put on a stage, writing: "No height limit, no close fitting exits, no conserving of stage space, just the whole world open to you as a stage and a thousand people in a scene does not crowd your accommodations."
   
   Working on the second _The Ten Commandments_, his last film, almost killed him, literally. He was shooting in Egypt and had a heart attack, but he recovered enough to resume the subsequent Hollywood shooting. He was sure that the Ten Commandments were the basis of our society, and he was a darling of the McCarthy set, proposing that members of the Screen Directors' Guild sign a non-Communist loyalty oath; John Ford himself shot him down on that one. His reactionary politics, entangled with his virulent anti-union beliefs, seem foolish now. On the right to silence, for instance, he spouted, "As an American he has the right. But he does not have the right to be silent when his silence is decisively un-American." Of course, he got to decide who was un-American. Louvish has to include these unseemly parts of an astonishing life, but naturally DeMille's politics don't matter much now. When the French film theorists praised the American directors like Walsh, Ford, and Hawks as "auteurs" who put their own personal stamp on their films, they ignored DeMille. It was a mistake to leave him out; DeMille put out seventy movies, tightly controlling every one. Louvish's entertaining biography shows that DeMille exerted the control in the small scenes as well as the epic ones.



2. "I'm ready when you are Mr. DeMille' So cried Norma Desmond the looney faded silent screen star in the Billy Wilder classic of 1950, "Sunset Boulevard." Old CB even appeared in a cameo in this film portraying himself as an avuncular director taking pity on Norma his erstwhile star.
   In real life Mr. Cecil B. DeMille was not always a kindly chap! As the director of over 70 Hollywood films from the silents to the triumph of his remake of "The Ten Commandments" in 1959 he towered high on the Hollywood totem pole of clout, hutzpah and showbiz hoopla!
   DeMille was born in Mass. in 1881, His older and more intellectual brother William would grow up to be a playwright and teacher of film. His father had worked on the Broadway stage writing plays for famed producer David Belasco. His mother was a Jew but DeMille liked to keep his Jewish heritage a secret in Anti-Semitic America.
   DeMille found work as a playwright and wrote several for the Broadway stage. He and his friend Jesse Lasky went to Hollywood and were in on the ground floor of moviemaking in the early 1900s. DeMille directed 52 silent films featuring Gloria Swanson, Mabel Normand and other early film luminaries. Author Louvish asserts that silent films were the best work done by DeMille. Among them were the first "Ten Commandments"as well as the excellent "King of Kings" about the life of Christ. Other standout silent moviews must include "The Squaw Man", "The Volga Boatmen", "The Golden Bed", and others. Many of these films have been lost. Louvish says they are worth a viewing on a good DVD transfer.
   DeMille's first talkie was "Dynamite." He is most known for his biblical epics such as "Samson and Delilah", "The Sign of the Cross" and his magnus opus "The Ten Commandments." DeMille won an Oscar for Best Picture for "The Greatest Show on Earth" in 1952.
   DeMille presents us with an uneven body of work. His films are often filled with hokum, horrible dialgoue and clumsy acting. He did do a good deal of research on his films and they do have their moments of high drama. His seventy plus films and over six decades in the movie business have earned him a place in the ranks of outstanding directors of the twentieth century. DeMille died in 1959.
   In his persona he was dictatorial, demanding, meticulous in research and planning.. He was an inveterate womanizer who was unfaithful to his good wife Beatrice. He enjoyed weekends at a ranch where orgies occurred. DeMille had several longterm mistresses event though he impressed people as the model of moral probity. He was an Episcopalian and student of the Bible. DeMille was also a right wing supporter of anti-communism in Hollywood and was anti-union. He had many flaws but produced good work from time to time. He was the host of the Lux Radio Theatre for years; enjoyed flying as a pilot and was a patriotic American. People either loved or loathed him. DeMille often shouted on the set acting like an imperious Simon Legree driving his actors to what he considered perfection. He did not entertain fools gladly.
   Louvish has done a workmanlike job on the life of DeMille. The book does get tedious when he gives us a synopsis of many of the forgettable films directed by the director. One would like to know about his personal life but as Louvish notes this book is on the DeMille film more than a detailed examination of CB's life.
   Any fan of DeMille or Hollywood history would enjoy this book.

5 comments about Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther.

1. This book was recommended to me by a Lutheran minister. I am not Lutheran, but when the school my children attend became a Lutheran school I thought that I should learn more about Luther. This book then is quite a scholarly work and goes into a lot of doctrine such as that of 'indulgences'. The great thing about this book is that you learn as much Catholic doctrine as you do Luthern because these doctrines must be explained before any critique is made. In some places the book is very easy to read (especially the parts detailing Luthers childhood and relationship with his family) and in others it is difficult (the doctirnal sections), but if you persist you will emerge much richer for the effort.



2. This book is written with intense, muscular prose, and oversees the life of a mighty thinker going through rough times for decades. Like the 16th century woodcuts that are depicted in illustrations throughout the work, the words seem to have a power that is more like an engraving or sculpture than passive tableau. The prose and mastery of complex theological, interpersonal, and historical issues gave me a reading experience I had not had since reading Allan Bullock's book on Hitler years ago.
   One feels profoundly immersed in the realities of Luther's struggles, yet at the same time, feels the imponderable weight of God's Providence. How did he wrestle with so many deep issues yet have time to marry, have six children, have meetings with friends and students, survive debilitating ailments, rebound from intense persecutions, and maintain a vibrant -- though sometimes coarse -- perspective? As I read the volume, I marched with Bainton through the intense and densely troubled waters of theological and liturgical disputes.
   Although I already in part knew the outcome;yet, at the same time, I was breathless: what would happen next? It was like watching those serial shows on TV years ago...what would happen to Flash Gordon in the next episode? So, I asked myself: how will Martin L. fare in the debate with Eck? How will he hold up before the Holy Roman Emperor? Will he survive the attacks on his life? What attitudes will he take towards other dissenting "Protestants?" It is a tribute to Prof. Bainton's narrative genius that I was brought into the "reality" of the times. In real life, we wonder: what will happen next -- especially with controversial actions that stir our deepest feelings.
   This book is more than a biography. As I said above, it's also a woodcut and a memorable personal experience where we get to participate in Prof. Bainton's great exposition of the life of the irascible but beloved Doktor Luther.



3. This edition of an otherwise wonderful book is terrible! The margins between the lines are so tight and the print so small and dense that one practically needs a magnifying glass to read it! We bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband's grandfather and were unable to give it to him because of its physical unreadability.



4. Good information on an important historical figure, but the reader has to tolerate far too much of the inane. For example, "...radio, television, and not even the internet were during John Calvin's time." Good to know.



5. This book was a great research source and a pretty easy read. I recommend this to anyone starting to study Martin Luther or the Reformation.

5 comments about Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood.

1. I loved reading this book for multiple reasons, but I will restrict myself to mentioning two. The first is that it is a well constructed story with excellent writing---a combination I cannot resist. The narrative moves at a pace to engage and captivate the reader without making the story just a rush to get to the next page. Writing that is thoughtful makes sure that the reader will savor and think about the events presented. This is worth a read merely to have the understanding of one more perspective presented well.
   
   But there is more to the book that makes me give this an enthusiastic five stars. As a chemist I was delighted to read a book that gave insight into this space of history of the chemistry profession. The history is two-fold: first it is a history of childhood enthusiasm for science and second it is a history of chemistry in the middle of the 1900s. many a child is enthusiastic about something. For all those children who loved science but never had the means to explore this book will bring sadness at what they lost for not being given such freedom and support. But the book also brings joy at reading that someone, somewhere had the chance to be the brilliant child you always thought you were. Today we highly restrict certain chemicals and also have an emphasis on safety in working with all chemicals. Sacks presents a time period when chemistry and science in general was done with little concern for safety. Instead of glossing over things Sacks presents information and experiments without deluding the reading into thinking it was perfectly safe.
   
   This book is an excellent exploration of multiple themes that are well worth thinking about. I challenge anyone to read it and not find something in it that doesn't provoke some thoughts about what you are doing now with what you are enthusiastic about or what you loved childhood and now have lost as an adult.



2. Sigh...as a science educator who sees students turned off of science in spite of it being much more interesting and useful then English and history, it's frustrating to read about a child whose family managed to convey the fun of science. I've enjoyed Oliver Sacks books so much. He is such a great person, a great neurologist, a great writer who manages to introduce the world to his scientific world and keep them interested. Too bad we cannot get someone like Sacks to write some of our textbooks because they are too dry, without showing the practical applications of the science. Sack's was lucky in having a family with immense background in the sciences, who spent their entire lives performing or doing science in some way. Very few of us have access to the equipment and the materials needed to do lab science at home, but Sacks did have access to this stuff and he certainly made the most of it.
   
   Sack's stories include information about his big family and their great variety of work in the sciences. His descriptions of his family members, his memories are filled with both love and awe for their patience with him and his interests in sciences which sometimes were not the same as theirs (his mom and dad wanted him to be a physician, and not a chemist).
   
   Sack's books are usually compendiums of short stories, which make for interesting reading. He has had so many intriguing forays into different fields of chemistry, and his ability to remember the textbooks and the books that famous scientists from that golden age in England and Germany are phenomenal in the recall. I remember the teacher in science who made such an impact on my perception of science, and I am only too aware of how short we are in obtaining good science teachers and introducing science programs into public schools. Maybe reading this book will encourage other young people with talent to look into science as a career possibility.
   
   Karen L. SAdler



3. The relationship between uncle and nephew is the most precious. Why? Because nephews confide in uncles like they don't confide in a father or mother. And uncles are sort of pseudo fathers to nephews. The responsibility of an uncle is not less than a father: to inspire and stimulate the child wherever he resists parental influence. I would imagine the rapport between an aunt and a niece is the same way, looking up to the corresponding role model and same sex mentor.
   
   Although Dr. Sacks paints a portrait of his extended family in this book, his Uncle Dave "Tungsten" is highlighted as an important source of inspiration. His retelling of his childhood and adolescence is fascinating. This is a beautiful book, sometimes overwhelming when scientific lingo becomes predominant but very warm and engaging. Even with a poor knowledge in chemistry -- my case -- it's immensely enjoyable. Dr. Sacks' childhood memories are colorful, jam-packed, very serious at times but also humorous, a bit like John Boorman's movie "Hope and Glory".



4. This is the second copy of Uncle Tungsten for me. I bought it when it was first released, loved it, and, unfortunately, loaned it to one too many friends. Now I have one to browse my favorite bits in, revisit the very different childhood of a man my age. Oliver Sachs treats his younger self with the same wide-eyed curiosity as he affords his patients.



5. This book has many wonderful aspects. One of them is Sacks' somewhat nonchalant description of what was a truly traumatic boarding-school experience. It is remarkable that he emerged as well as he did from the routine sadism of those four years in the countryside. It was only his fascination with chemistry and his capacity for detachment and introspection that permitted him to survive.
   
   Another memorable quality of the book is his immediate and personal understanding of the key question of science: Why? I never gave it much thought, but it wasn't until well into the twentieth century that scientists understood why the sun is so hot and will remain so hot more-or-less permanently. Until nuclear reactions were understood, this was a mystery. Sacks, paralleling centuries of investigators before him, is always asking why. This was great training for his ultimate and successful career as a neurologist.
   
   Finally, the portrayal of upper-middle-class London before and after World War II was very memorable. From a European viewpoint, America was pretty much untouched by the war; it had not been annexed or bombed by Hitler. England, on the other hand, was forever changed by the experience.