5 comments about Return from Tomorrow.

1. Unlike most other "life after death" books, this one relates a very different experience. Before meeting Jesus, the Light of the world, he saw what hell is like, and it isn't what Dante wrote about--and it isn't where you want to spend your eternity. After you read it, you'll understand why this book is still in print.



2. My mother who is 78 and just went through a health crisis, handed me this book after she was done saying just that it was interesting. I agree with her. I've been interested in NDE since before I went to school for Neuroscience. I read about some accounts as well as the view of science for these experiences, which is that as the mind shuts down neurons fire strangely causing people to have these hallucinations. I didn't find these explanations to be satisfactory, partly because they haven't been able to research this phenomenon well. How do you predict when someone is going to die, then come back to life? You certainly cannot risk causing this to happen. It's unethical. Plus as is often the case in medical research, those doctors come to the research expecting to validate their own preconceptions. For the most part, those who have reported NDE of their own, do not go into it 'expecting' to experience similar to what has previously been reported.
   
   George Ritchie went through this experience during WWII. This was prior to all the current interest in this phenomenon. The book itself was written during the 1970's, and is considered 'The' classic book on NDE.
   He felt the need to share this experience with others, and was probably surprised to find the amount of interest it has garnered. As with most young men, he went into this experience without expections or preconceptions...he basically hadn't thought of something like this happening before. Who does at age 20.
   
   Whether or not what he experienced is valid, the experience itself was life-changing for good. That alone is reason enough to look into this with an open mind. That which changes people in such a way as to produce good has significantly more promise than that which leads people to wrong-doing.
   
   The book itself, and the writing is quick and well-done. Ritchie is obviously a person of intelligence...he went to medical school (so has probably heard some of the scientific reasoning for this), and then became a psychiatrist (some of the biggest skeptics). At age 20, he wasn't very religious. He certainly didn't expect to die.
   
   Those who choose to read books such as this usually are those with an open mind. Each person has to decide for themselves what they choose to believe. I'm sure that this book offers comfort to many, especially those who know they are approaching their own deaths. Since this book has been printed over and over again for the last 40 years, it must 'ring true' for some reason to an awful lot of people. Readers need to approach this book (and others like it) without their own expectations or preconceptions to get something out of it.
   
   Karen Sadler



3. Excellent book for someone wanting to broaden his/her spiritual and religious base. It is a Christian book, but goes beyond traditional boundaries. The author discusses relationships with Jesus and God that are more personal and of more consequence that conventional teaching.



4. I found "Return from Tomorrow" to be a moving, compelling little gem. I have been sharing it with many friends and feel that you could have a ministry from what George Ritchie reports in his book. It was absolutely life changing for me. I thank Guideposts and George Ritchie for his inspiring and riveting story.



5. I was originally loaned this book by a friend who made great claims about it. I was hesitant because most of us have heard the experiences of those with near or real death and then come back to tell about it. One day I picked up the book and starting skimming through it to the part where the death experience occurs, I couldn't put it down! its totally different than all the others I've heard about. In fact, once I finished the book I immediately started over from the very beginning. I bought this book to loan out to others and to re-read myself, it can be read in a few hours.

5 comments about Marie-Therese, Child of Terror: The Fate of Marie Antoinette's Daughter.

1. I loved this book. I have always wondered what happened to Marie Antoinette's daughter, and this really gives you a wonderfully detailed account of her life, and her feelings. Loved it.



2. I checked this out of the library...that, in combination with caring for little ones 24/7, meant I didn't have much time to read. As such, I had planned to simply skim through this book during my few spare moments in order to get the gist of it; however, I quickly found myself becoming engrossed and spending far too many nights staying up late reading. The first 1/2 to 3/4 of the book was particularly fascinating. The last 1/4 was slightly less so. Still, it was quite a good book, in my opinion, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.



3. Marie Therese is the story of the only surviving child of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI of France. Because of their tragic end on the guillotine, the royal couple is a favorite of biographers and historical novelists, and the first third of the book recounts the circumstances that led to their execution, the difference being that, in Marie Therese, we are looking at these events through the eyes of a young girl. The downward spiral that began with the storming of the Bastille and led to the Reign of Terror started when Marie Therese was only 11 years old. While at Versailles, "Madame Royal" was forced to hide from armed mobs screaming for her mother's blood and to step over the butchered bodies of servants.
   
   Three years later, the king, queen, Marie Therese, and her brother, the Dauphin, Louis-Charles, are incarcerated in the Temple Prison in Paris, and the horrors begin: the execution of her parents, the prolonged torture of her little brother who would die of neglect, and her own imprisonment. When she is finally released 3-1/2 years later, she is allowed to join her mother's brother, Emperor Franz II, in Austria. However, "The Orphan of the Tower" is now a young woman of steely resolve and one who recognizes the importance of her role as a representative of the Bourbon dynasty in exile.
   
   In the years following her release from prison, Marie Therese and her husband, the Duc D'Angouleme, live a peripatetic existence, finally ending up in England, where they watch the events unfolding in France. With Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, the Bourbon dynasty is again restored. For the next 15 years, France will be Marie Therese's home until, once again, the French want to be rid of their king, Charles X.
   
   Marie Therese is an exhaustive, highly detailed account of the life of Madame Royal, the French Revolution, and the complexities of European politics in the early 19th century. In addition to the great events in the lives of the royals, minutiae, such as travel itineraries, meals, the appearances of numerous pretenders to the throne, are recorded. At times, the inclusion of so many mundane details bogs down the book, but for anyone who ever wanted to know what happened to the only surviving child of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, they will have to wonder no longer.



4. I liked this book very much. As with the other comments not too many
   books were offered on the daughter of Marie Antionette. Marie-Therese
   Charlotte was a fighter and one heck of a survivor.
   
   And I thought I'd be the only one ordering this book, I'm glad I was wrong.



5. Superbly written, fascinating subject, close bond between author and subject...what more could you ask for in a biography? I'm a great fan of books on the French Revolution and its aftermath but had never run across any book on Marie-Therese before. Sheds wonderful light on the Bourbon family and other nobles; an interesting new perspective on France in 1789-1850. Describes MT's strength of character, courage, determination and intelligence without fawning, and presents a well-rounded portrait of a woman with a backbone of steel (see Napoleon's compliment) without falling into the error of retroactive anachronistic feminism - MT was very much a product of her times, religious and outwardly subservient to her male relatives while managing to outshine so many of them and determinedly pursue her own agenda and her family's goals. One of the best books I have ever read on any subject. Please write another soon!

1 comments about Science Lessons: What the Business of Biotech Taught Me About Management.

1. Gordon Binder's Science Lessons demonstrates the efficacy of creating an atmosphere of autonomy and employee ownership in the corporate structure. Mr Binders straightforward corporate philosophy shines in its simplicity and effectuality.
   To the layman, 'science" conotates cold, calculating numbers, control groups and petri dishes. Mr Binder brings warmth and humanity to the scientific ascent at Amgen and leaves an indellible impression on the reader.
   Science Lessons is a blueprint for the creation of a mission statement for anyone in business. The author has a unique and refreshing approach to management rooted in positive reinforcement and a reverence for autonomy. In a corporate age of maddening bureacracy, Science Lessons is a mandatory read for anyone who manages people.
   A utilitarian would marvel at Mr Binder's results; but, to the contrary, its the means by which he accomplished things that astounds. Science Lessons is refreshing, invigorating and ulimately pragmatic for all readers. Five stars all the way!

5 comments about Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century.

1. By far simply one of his best collections. It seems the good doctor saw what was on the horizon and unforunately he was right. The world is a lesser place without him and we should all cherish every word. His insight was frightening an accurate. BUY THIS BOOK!



2. It's true, there are lots of parts of this book that can be found in other books, but this is still the best HST book I've read. It's sort of like a greatest hits. The new parts however, are the best part of this book.



3. This book (2003) and "Hey Rube" (2004) appear to be the last of HST's books. While "Hey Rube" contains lengthy discussions of gambling on professional football and basketball (including "March Madness"), this book is more far-ranging, containing everything from Thompson's reminiscences of his youth to his (highly negative) thoughts on George W. Bush. There's even a chapter from "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972," one of the finest political books ever written.
   
   The quality of the writing on the recent pieces is not quite up to that of his best from the past, but is still infinitely better than the mindless slop produced by other contemporary "writers." The man was an artist.
   
   As always, one of the disturbing things about Thompson is his ability to assess politics correctly in real time. Reading back, you think "Why didn't people take this man seriously at the time?"
   
   "Indeed," as Doc would say.



4. Mr Thompsons autobiography is somewhat lacking compared to his other works. It seems, that he in his later years didn't have that much new to say, and this volume shows it very clearly. It deals with the legend of HST, not the man Hunter Stockton Thompson, and only plays the same tune that we've been hearing since F&L in Las Vegas, only in a strongly diluded form.
   
   A great drawback is that he recycles a lot of stuff from his earlier work, which if you're a fan/reader of his you can't help but feel a bit cheated about. The book isn't that long as it is, but when half the material already has been printed before, and therefore probably, for fans at least, is on your shelf already, it gives the feeling of the good Mr Thompson not really making an effort writing this volume.
   
   It's not all bad though. There are highlights in the book. His description of his childhood is enjoyable and very biographical. The last chapter is also very enjoyable, although not that good as biographical material, it does for a good reading.
   
   It starts out legitimate enough, but quickly turns to his rambling and at times incoherent style of writing. Worth reading if you're a completist. I would recommend the compilations of his letters "The Proud Highway" and "F&L in America" as biography instead. They are much better.



5. Make no mistake the late, lamented Hunter Thompson was always something of a muse for me going way back to the early 1970's when I first read his seminal work on outlaw bikers, The Hell's Angels. Since then I have devoured, and re-devoured virtually everything that he has written. I have reviewed many of those efforts elsewhere in this space. As I noted recently in reviewing his 2004 work Hey, Rube, a screed on the misadventures of a gambling freak (himself), not all his efforts have been equally compelling. That was the case in my panning of Hey, Rube but here we are back on much more solid `gonzo' style from the old days. Maybe it is because this work is in the form of a memoir and thus intentionally places the good Doc's actions in the center of the writing that puts this effort in the mold of his better compilations like the Great Shark Hunt and Songs of the Doomed.
   
   Thompson uses his patented stream of consciousness trope to create amusing stories starting from the then present (early 2000's) and his then current doings and splices them together, in some segments randomly, to events as far back as his childhood in Louisville, Kentucky. Along the way we find him at age nine in trouble with the FBI, and none the worst for the confrontation. Later, it is down and dirty in Rio with the crazies. Throughout, we find him incessantly testing his beloved guns and various `hot' motorcycles at various and sundry appropriate and inappropriate times.
   
   Additionally, we have some compelling and insightful stories as this radical journalist tours the news breaking global spots, taking trips to places like Vietnam just before the fall, Cuba, Grenada just after the invasion and elsewhere wherever the journalistic action might be and a story, in the Thompson style, might develop. Needless to say there is plenty of ink about sex, drugs and rock and rock including his deeply affecting and traumatic tangle with the law in Aspen the early 1990's. That, my friends, was a close call.
   
   And throughout, as usual, there are pithy political comments about the various idiots-in-chiefs, their henchman and hangers-on that he spent his life hammering. Maybe not hammering your way, definitely not my way, but his way. His fateful run for Sheriff of Aspen on the Freak Power ticket in 1970 probably accurately set the tone as a lifelong description of his politics. For those who have read other works by Thompson some of the signature language may be old hat as he meanders along in this volume. For others it is a chance to learn the lingo. Damn, especially this election year, I miss him. Read on.

5 comments about Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table.

1. Although Ruth has encounted her share of life's obstacles and heartache, she continues to embrace life with a sense of humor and an open heart, which I think is the key to her success. Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections



2. Ruth Reichl currently serves as editor of "Gourmet" magazine, an exalted position for any foodie. She also was once the restaurant critic for the "New York Times," but her journey as critic emerged from a much bumpier, more interesting path at a commune in Berkeley, California. "Comfort Me with Apples" follows on from Reichl's first book, her childhood exposure to the wonderful world of food, "Tender at the Bone." That book was so outstanding, I had a hard time imagining how Reichl's sequel could be as good, but it is.
   
   In "Comfort Me with Apples," Reichl's tales of fine dining, celebrity chefs, and the pursuit of a great meal are colored with stories of her own love life, marriage and divorce, travel, friendships, and her desire for motherhood. Her pursuit of adopting a child is perhaps the most life-changing and heart-breaking story of all. And all along the way, we are lured by the amazing, accompanying meals. This memoir will make your mouth water and your heart ache.
   
   Don't feel that you need to read "Tender at the Bone" first. This book stands up on its own, but all of Reichl's writing is so engaging, why would you miss any of it?



3. Ruth Reichl has done it again -- completely mesmerized me with a book I found hard to put down.
   
   The current editor of Gourmet magazine goes from food critic a New West Magazine to the LA Times in this, the sequel to her first memoir, Tender at the Bone. How she reinvents herself from a hippie living in a commune in Berkeley cooking for her housemates to being one of the most respected food critics in the country is told with her usual candor, intelligence, humor, and poignancy. Her essay toward the end about her struggle with infertility left me weeping. An unbearable heartbreak for Ruth and Michael had me so emotional I had to put the book down at one point. But then an act of extraordinary kindness on the part of some of her dear friends several pages later made me sigh.
   
   Thank goodness I had already read her bio and knew that in the end things turn out well for her, but I was struck by how hard it must have been for her to write about some of these episodes and she addresses this in her acknowledgements at the end of the book.
   
   I enjoyed the stories she shares of how difficult it is for one to open a new restaurant and was particularly interested in the story of Wolfgang Puck's wife Barbara (who we met briefly at her now-defunct Seattle restaurant several years ago).
   
   Another excellent read from Ruth Reichl. Her third book, Garlic and Sapphires is next. I can hardly wait!



4. A wonderful second course to her first book, Tender At the Bone. Just like you anticpate great meals through aromas wafting through the house, each page wafts anticipation of her growing career in the world of gourmet dining. And as happens on occasion, the meals that don't turn out just right, despite following every iota of the recipe, so too her marriage fails to sustains and nourish. A great read for the foodie who loves to read or the reader who loves good food! Bon Appetit!



5. The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know EverythingAs a positive psychologist who focuses on women and girls in my own books, my latest being The Truth, the diary of a 10-11 year old girl who is struggling to grow-up and yet stay true to herself, I have to say I love Ruth Reichl's books. I am not here to pick them apart. Rather I eat them up, from first course to last, as the most wonderfully delicious meals of a woman's life experiences, combined with the intimate reflections of her inner life. And Comfort Me with Apples is no exception. I enjoyed every page and wanted to know even more about her than she shared. For me, maybe the combination of being taken to places I have never been, both in terms of travel, and relationships, and also delighting in descriptions of cooking and eating foods, just is a perfect combination for me and I suspect many women. I wouldn't dare, even if these things happened to me, to put them into writing. I am glad that there are people like Ruth Reichl who are willing and daring enough to share of themselves with readers when they themselves are still in their prime and not just reflecting (although there is nothing wrong with that) about a life well lived toward the end of one's days. Carry on Ruth! May everyday for you be a treat. And don't forget to share some of it with me!

5 comments about Private Parts.

1. This is one of those books you can pick up anywhere, read a few pages, enjoy it, and put it down again. Perfect for, er, certain rooms in the apartment.
   
   If you get Howard, you should get this.



2. a rather interesting bio. pretty much the whole book is half bio and half satire and commentary. it definitly give's you a tour into the demented mind of howard stern and as you progress through the book even as raunchy as it get's you finish by saying to yourself "well that made sense"
   
   not for the uptight and not for the easily offended,,,read with an open mind!



3. I could actually hear Howards voice as I read this great book that tells the story of Howard Stern from a child until present day(1994)Also check out his follow up book Miss America(its also great)



4. Writing about oneself is an extremely difficult task that requires both daring and self-criticism. I don't know how many times I wanted to destroy my own writing because, with time, I realized how naive and stupid I was in the past. This is not the case with Howard Stern's autobiography here. He's a very brave man who does not fear to be criticized neither for who he is nor for what he does. Perhaps, the greatest anxiety of being ignored or under-appreciated drives H. Stern to put his "private parts" into unusual and fascinating language codes. And in this creative process, he is probably to be compared to such great names of the past as Giovanni Boccaccio ("The Decameron") and Francois Rable ("The Life of Gargantua and Pantagruel").
   
   Moreover, H. Stern's "Private Parts" is a great representation for the recent immigrants like me of the unofficial American life in the second half of the 20th century. I'm reading this book along with Peter Novick's "The Holocaust and Collective Memory" and it's a great combination so far that allows me to see what's considered history and by whom.
   
   Leaving the critical reflection for people who don't understand that critical concepts and theories are not weapons to discredit an artwork or an artist, just want to say, "I really loved this book!" I did love it even though as an average woman I was constantly measuring myself up to who H. Stern considered "hot" or "nice" or important. On the other hand, reading "Private Parts", I've never felt alone in my self-oppressive thoughts and unrealistic dreams. Howard Stern also indulges into both unimaginable self-appraisal and genuinely scary self-criticism.
   
   I'm still just half-through his book, but I think I won't change my mind about his talent and daring even if he wrote at the end that every reader of the book is an idiot. So far, I don't even care what the book ends on. H. Stern has already put the culmination at the beginning - a very feminist gesture... If you are easily excited (sexually I mean) I'm not sure you'll be able to continue reading after the first 10 pages. You'll surely need to pause... for a while... Enjoy the reading!



5. First off, I hate his show, I loved this book and the movie.
   
   Private Parts is hilarious, compelling and truthful. I've never been a huge Howard fan, I saw this book and for some reason started reading.
   
   The book is his story, how he got where he is now and where it all started. If you love Howard Stern, you'll love his book, if you arent a fan, its still great reading.

5 comments about Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times.

1. Andrew Jackson is one of the most important and influential of our pre-20th century Presidents. In fact, if at the time of its construction, Mount Rushmore had room for five Presidential profiles, Andrew Jackson would have almost certainly been the one added. Youthful participant in the Revolutionary War, explorer, frontiersman, duelist, congressman, gentleman planter, Hero of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 and ultimately multi-term President; that's quite a resume.
   
   As Brands so ably points out, Jackson was the first "people's President". Following Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Adams, Jackson was arguably the first "outsider" to be elected to the White House, largely on the wave of public adulation, support which he never relinquished.
   
   Such was the life of Jackson, that despite covering almost 600 pages, this book almost seems cursory in its handling of the many aspects of his full and varied life. While his monumental and epic battle with Nicholas Biddle and the Bank of the United States is covered at length, and his expansionist pursuits with respect to Louisiana, Florida and Texas are well documented, most other aspects of his presidency are glossed over almost completely. The details of his feuds with many of his contemporaries are fascinating, but in my opinion not extensively covered and analyzed.
   
   If ever there was a need for a multi-volume biography, the life and times of Andrew Jackson would be the case. Along with Benjamin Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, Jackson would be well deserving of the title "An American Original".



2. As always Brands delivers a comprehensive but totally readable work of nonfiction. As far as the scope of the book I believe it is the best book out there on Jackson. Brands is truly a great writer who really wants to tell the story of his subject. My only problem with this book is that I think Brands has been too quick to overlook some of Jackson's faults. Issues such as his failure to obey orders in Florida, or his actions towards Native Americans (even those who fought with Jackson) are simply glossed over as the actions of a man doing what was best for his country. This of course was the excuse for countless despots throughout history and Jackson shouldn't be given a free pass on some of these issues. However he clearly made a great diference in the history of his country and this book makes that clear in a book that is very enjoyable to read. For a totally different perspective on Jackson read Burstein's book The Passions of Andrew Jackson.



3. Since I live close to the area where Andrew Jackson was born (while I am a native North Carolinian, South Carolina seems to have the most evidence for claiming him as a native born son since one of the pieces of evidence was that Jackson himself claimed to have born in South Carolina), I had natural interest in reading about his life.
   
   Overall I would say the book is a good read - the story gets off to a good start in describing Jackson's early life but does seem to drag on in other periods.
   
   Among the areas covered by Brands include:
   
   1. Jackson's early life and how he was orphaned at an early age.
   2. Participation in the American Revolution.
   3. Training and experiences as a lawyer.
   4. Move to Tennessese.
   5. Military experiences with Indians and the War of 1812.
   6. Political alliances and his many political enemies.
   7. Marriage to Rachel Donelson.
   8. Later life.
   
   I would have like to have seen some more maps that pertained to his travels and military battles - doing so would have made it easier to follow some of the narrative.
   
   Still, a good read on "Old Hickory". Recommended.



4. H.W. Brands writes a detailed, fact-laden biography that treats Jackson with sincerity, but not excessive bias. The book is serious as well as alluring in that it maintains elements of the sweeping myth of the West - so relevant to Jackson and early America.
   
   More than half of the book deals with Jackson's life prior to his inauguration in 1821. While this may seem excessive, the context is critical to understanding Jackson and evaluating his legacy. As the first congressman for the newly formed frontier state of Tennessee, Jackson seems unfit for the laborious political maneuverings of Philadelphia and more apt to lead by the sword. With draconian discipline he succeeds brilliantly on the battlefield, crushing the Creek Indians and defeating the British in New Orleans in one of the most lopsided victories in American history. The people revere him as a fearless hero and maverick who is less inclined to listen to the Washington elites than to follow his own code forged from frontier experience - an experience rooted in dueling, drinking, slaves, Indian slaying and horses as well as in initiative, courage and persistence through immense hardship, of a sort unknown in the East.
   
   Jackson's fame, and infamy, ultimately propels him to the South Lawn where he hosts a raucous inauguration party, in stark contrast to his presidential predecessors. Again, Brands largely explains the most important acts of Jackson's presidency - the tariff, the bank crisis, Indian policy and western expansion - in terms of the lessons learned on the frontier as well as Jackson's instincts to preserve the Union at all costs - which fills the void left by his own deceased biological family.
   
   The end result is erudite and entertaining - a scholarly portrait peppered with stories of the frontier - that leaves the reader with a fuller understanding of Jackson and, despite Old Hickory's glaring flaws, at least a grudging respect for Jackson's courage, emotional devotion to the Union and embodiment of the hopes and fears of the American people. "His strengths were their strengths, his weaknesses were their weaknesses," writes Brands. More than anywhere else this was true of the American West.



5. Complete and truthful. Jackson was a onery old coot and a great president and military hero. Brands does a very good job of covering his life and times. A good read.

5 comments about Nemesis: The True Story of Aristotle Onassis, Jackie O, and the Love Triangle That Brought Down the Kennedys.

1. What a fascinating, very well written book! It seemed every page had a juicy morsel or two and really opened my eyes into what was really going on during the last months of John Kennedy's life and why Jackie married Aristotle Onassis. As a teenager, I was shocked she'd married someone who obviously wasn't a friend of the United States. But Peter Evans portrays Onassis as someone so fascinating, even desirable in his "bulldog" approach to women, maybe money wasn't the only reason. Then again, once you read this book your whole image of "Camelot" and the "Holy Widow" will never be the same.



2. Those who find a conspiracy in every world event will be satisfied with the well-researched and well-written account of the possible involvement of Aristotle Onassis in the assassination of Robert Kennedy. As to the oft-asked question as to why Jacqueline Kennedy would want to marry the Greek tycoon, it is answered with a new understanding of the greed and lust that drove these compelling personalities. The narrative fairly jumps from the pages of this very fast read. Even the footnotes are fascinating.



3. I thought that this book would be interesting to me because I like the Kennedy family and am interested in conspiracy theories, but I was wrong. This book is pretty good, but it is really confusing with so many people involved that sometimes it is hard to keep straight who this person is and what they did.



4. Fans of Callas, Onassis, & Kennedy(s) should embrace this book a.s.a.p. Peter Evans does a wonderful job. What an extraordinary story that is told. I couldn't put this book down for several weeks. Even after I've finished it, it inspires re-reading. Highly recommended!!



5. Except for the garish cover jacket, this is a devilishly well-written and well-presented book. True enough it is "conspiracy fare," but with a flair: a la British style, where the conspiratorial plot is insinuated rather than unceremoniously stuffed down the reader's throat as uncontestable media-driven and "state sanctioned" fact.
   
   The strength of the book however is not the conspiratorial plot, which in my view is mostly a sideshow to the main event. Its power lies in the excellent writing that exposes the utter shallowness of the pseudo-royal and nuevo-monied jet-setters, as they go about their desperately empty lives, trying to pump meaning into them by way of extra-marital sex, alcohol and drugs, gaudiness, world-class treachery, lavish globe-trotting cruises and parties, and mindless spending for spending sake, in short, the worse sort of debauchery. There was a time when such decadent hubris, and money-based royalty was to be envied as the "good life," but Peter Evan brings them and their phoniness back down to earth and it is not a pretty picture. When he finishes with them, using mostly their own words (as he very carefully mines most of his material from a host of their own memoirs), there is certainly very little left to envy about them.
   
   At the epicenter of the story are the two "uber-egos" of RFK and Ari Onassis, locked into battle for over a generation, and who, despite all their power and wealth retained the social minds of a couple of juvenile delinquents. Their respective struggles and feuds bordered on the psychopathic, more befitting a couple of teenage gang leaders than respected world-class "prime movers." But this seemed not to have bothered either of them one iota, as they both continued obsessively committed to the utter destruction of the other.
   
   According to the author, the seminal event triggering the feud was Onassis' paranoid suspicions that it was RFK's hidden hand responsible for scuttling his carefully laid plans to corner the oil tanker shipping market, first in Saudi Arabia, then in Haiti. Likewise, Bobby was equally worried and paranoid that Onassis, would use his tight-knit social connections (within the Kennedy clan via Jackie's sister and eventually via Jackie herself) to find out and use what dirt he could uncover, against the Kennedys, thereby scuttling first JFK's chances of being re-elected, and then RFK's chances of becoming President after his brother's assassination. These mutual suspicions eventually spilled over into "all out" psychological warfare and reached a crescendo in the run up to Onassis determined efforts to marry Jackie, which he eventually did. But not before RFK first forbid it, then to avoid a scandal (since the whole world already knew Onassis was screwing Jackie), insisted on it.
   
   If you believe the author's version of the way events unfolded, RFK got the worse of this multi-decade series of vendettas that coalesced around JFK's widow's "shotgun marriage" to Onassis. What is insinuated (if only ever so lightly) is that Onassis, after marrying Jackie, used his Palestinian connections to pay for (though not set up) the hit that ended in RFK's assassination.
   
   A la British style, one is of course expected to read between the lines and connect the dots for himself, which is fine if you are a non-American: this version then makes perfectly good sense. But if you live within U.S. borders, you can almost feel the other anti-RFK wheels grinding as they pre-position themselves (with Ari's 1.5-3.5 million dollars) to take advantage of the RFK-Onassis feud: And here we mean, LBJ/Hoover/Mob/Texas oil/CIA machinery, for instance.
   
   Just as Evan-Prichard's "The Secret World of Bill Clinton," exposed the corruption surrounding Bill and Hilary Clinton, this book, written by another Englishman, attempts to tie up the loose ends surrounding the primal feud between Onassis and Bobby Kennedy. One does not need to be a conspiracy nut to enjoy a well-documented, well-told story, and this is it. Five stars

5 comments about Leaving Dirty Jersey: A Crystal Meth Memoir.

1. Leaving Dirty Jersey is author James Salant's account of his years as Jimmy -- an eighteen-year-old preppie Jersey kid turned heroin and meth addict. Jimmy got into a major scuffle with his hometown police during a drug raid, so his well-meaning parents took their lawyer's advice to tuck him away in an out-of-state rehab program to wait out his trial date. He left New Jersey for the Riverside, CA Get Straight For Life program, in which he was introduced to a broad network of local connections before moving with his new crowd into a sober-living facility.
   
   Within weeks, Jimmy is using drugs again. For a year, he drifts between boarding houses, motels, and meth couches of Riverside, wheedling money out of his desperate parents, selling drugs, and desperately working on his street cred. He runs with a crowd of flaky, unreliable druggies, each of whom look out only for him or herself. Their scores and hustles are strangely enrapturing, and Salant's dialog is gritty and sharp. Days consist of nothing more than theft, lies, scrams, and scores, and Salant admits to it all. When he finally embraces sobriety, after a year drifting in Riverside, Salant credits his peers in recovery with breaking him of his need to posture as a tough guy. It takes years, but Salant learned that there's a lot more to life than looking cool for your "friends."
   
   Leaving Dirty Jersey is a quick read with a straightforward message and little to no recovery-speak. At the end of the book, within one page, Jimmy goes from near-death to a new life as James, the author with recovery under his belt and a great girl. However, Salant is nothing if not brutally honest about the downfalls of addiction - he takes credit for both his screw-ups and successes in this gritty but pleasantly brief memoir.



2. this book is scary, it opens your eye to the love familys have even when your child is slowly killing himself with drugs. the author has a great talent, and is so very hot! the book does not let you put it down. again a great book.



3. Salant's book is by far the best memoir of drug addiction I've ever read.
   
   It's precisely the relative absence of shock-for-shock's sake that made this book such a satisfying read. As described by Salant, a drug addict's world isn't exciting; it's just sordid (which Salant acknlowedges in recounting some of the gross and/or unsavory things he did while addicted. Those of us who like to read about unsavory things done by other people - and I'm one of them - do get their money's worth in this memoir). But it's his writing that struck me as singular.
   
   Told by a less talented writer, this story could have been ho-hum. But Salant writes with great clarity and economy, and seems objective as he can be in a book about himself. He does talk about writing poetry in the book, though sometimes he lied about that so his parents would send him money, so I'm not sure how much poetry he actually wrote!
   
   But as for his prose, Salant writes as if he's been writing forever - he's that good. He's an extremely talented young writer, and thanks to that, this book wasn't the cobbled-together addiction exploitation book it very easily could have been.
   
   Another reviewer said he (or she) would have liked more about his recovery. I think that might have been too much; I think Salant was right in leaving off where he did. And for an addict or alcoholic, there is always the chance of relapse; it's risky talking about your "recovery" when you're still in your early 20s. That's just my view, of course.
   
   But this one's absolutely well worth reading.



4. Bored, tired of reading books with facts and statistics? Yes, so was I.
   
   This book is a great, fun read. The main character Jim (the author James Salant) keeps you on the edge of your seat.
   
   James doesnt waste your time trying to give you statistics on drugs, drug use or even how meth is produced.
   
   This is his story of addiction, from beginning to end. Its not a pretty journey through the countryside, but rather a long walk down a dirty, dangerous back alley.
   
   Meth use is a disgusting, but growing problem in the U.S. This book gives you one mans glimpse of what it was like being hooked on it!!!



5. i was blown away by how interesting and inspiring a book about the life of guy on drugs could be. He was so detailed in his writing that you can tell that he has a gift as a writer and an amazing story to go along with it. It was a very hard book to put down and there was never any moments in the book that i just wanted to skip ahead because i was being bored with unnecessary details. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read!

5 comments about Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths (P.S.).

1. "Abraham" is an interesting and well-written book, but it seemed to me that Feiler has the shadow of 9/11 hanging a bit too darkly over it. Perhaps because of its more specific topic -- Abraham -- it's also a less expansive work in some ways than either "Walking the Bible" or "Where God was Born." Worth reading, but I didn't find it as good as "Walking the Bible" or "Where God was Born."



2. Saying that Abraham reconciles the three religions is like saying Adam reconciles special creation and evolution. Unfortunately, for Feiler, those who deny that Jesus is Messiah, God, eternally separate themselves from the christian faith. Jews and Muslims can only be reconciled to Jesus by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, not by playing games with Abraham.



3. Feiler makes some very interesting points about how Islam, Christianity, and Judaism have all come to claim Abraham as their own patriarch. But since I am not a biblical scholar, I found it difficult to follow much of the book.



4. Author Bruce Feiler again takes his readers on an enchanting journey into the Biblical past. In "Abraham: A Journey To The Heart Of Three Faiths" he studies the role of Abraham as reflected in the traditions and scriptures of the three great monotheistic faiths which claim to be his children, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The map for this journey is drawn from the Old and New Testaments as well as the Koran. For anyone with a less than a thorough immersion into these scriptures, this book will be very educational. It certainly brought new concepts to my mind. Coming from a Christian background, I had always thought that it was clear that Abraham had taken his son Isaac to sacrifice, but that, at the urging of angel, Isaac was saved. Feiler introduces the traditions that it was Ishmael who was to be sacrificed and that the one was offered was actually killed. This is just one example of the traditions brought out which broaden ones understanding of these ancient works.
   
   Perhaps the greatest gift of this work is an enhanced appreciation of the crucial role that Abraham plays in the history of civilization. Abraham's great gift was the realization that there is only one God. This we share with our Jewish and Moslem brethren. It boggles the mind to think that this ancient wanderer has played such a role in the history of our world and in our own lives as well. I finished this journey in awe of this man. This, alone, makes the journey worthwhile.



5. This book helped to confirm my belief that the history of religious thought, Christian, Jewish or Muslim, is not much more than a lot of baloney. The theologians have simply been making up divergent stories to satisfy their pulpit needs as the centuries passed. How foolish the whole process has been. Abraham might have been no more than a delusional shepherd wandering in the desert heat. I wonder what Christopher Hitchens would have to say about this book.