5 comments about In the Ring: The Trials of a Washington Lawyer.

1. If you want to know how Washington works and does not work then this is the book. My only regret is that the author did not keep the original title and moved to the editor's choice. The original title was Mean Town. It is nice to see the town through the eyes of someone who after all these years is still an idealist. In D.C. you can actually find more Kangaroos than genuine idealists.



2. This book provides insight into the real workings of Washington and into the complexities of operating within the rule of law. Bob Bennett is the measure of doing the right thing. His story is pointed and full of insight for the young and old lawyer. He demonstrates that preparation is the key to success. He willingly praises those with whom he works. We would all benefit if there were more lawyers like Bob Bennett. Integrity personified. The book is well worth the read and anyone affiliated with the law or pollitics should read it.



3. A disjointed and uneven presentation of the highlights of the career of a high-profile Washington, D.C. litigator. It is written in the style of that town, with many words devoted (in a modest way, of course) to what a grand job the author did in representing some totally innocent and famous client. Praise is lavished on most public figures, with scores settled on a few notable back hats; here, e.g., Judge Walsh, Senator DeConcini, and NY Times publisher Sulzberger.
   
   Of course a child of the author goes to Sidwell Friends and the manager of The Palm is mentioned. And, growing up in Brooklyn he loved the Dodgers.
   
   Mr. Bennett's advice to young lawyers boils down to be honest and have balance in your lives. Which is good advice, but you probably do not need to buy this book to obtain it.
   
   Mr. Bennett has been a central figure in a number of the most important legal situations of the past few decades. Unfortunately, in this book, he writes in a style that indicates to me that this book was a toss off effort, done while he was still active and distracted in his day job. Rare are the hard, keen and full descriptions of any of the interesting public figures with whom he came into contact. Mr. Bennett, the one-time amateur boxer, pulls his punches.



4. This is a fantastic "inside look" of Bob Bennett. He is very detailed in his descriptions of happenings in his life, both as a youngster in Brooklyn, NY and later as a professional in Washington, D. C. My husband and I were glued to the pages, not wanting to put down the book, at least not until we completed the chapter we were reading. In the center of the book are various family photographs, making the text even more enjoyable. It's a great read.



5. This is one of those books I read hating myself every minute for wasting my time. My recurring thought was that Bennett promised everyone who ever did him a favor that they'd be mentioned in his memoir. Bennett never lost a case even when he didn't win, and teaches young lawyers the value of honesty, preparation, early connections with powerful people, and most importantly the value of having big bucks and political clout behind you. Everyone is "wonderful" save those who disagreed with him. There are no insights which cannot be gained through far less narcissistic and biased sources. What the book in lacked substance, it did not compensate in the writing.

5 comments about Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery & My Return to the NFL.

1. Bruschi inspires people, even those who aren't football fans, in this book that tells about what he went through when he had his stroke and the aftermath. I would even recommend this book for stroke survivors or people whose family or friends had a stroke.



2. I bought this book for my husband for Christmas. He has hardly put it down since he got it. I can't wait for him to finish so I can read it!



3. I am a HUGE Patriots fan and i could not put this book down. I am 14 years old and i have to read every single night and i was excited when i started to read this book. This book makes you think about what you have and the things that you take for granted. Even though the patriots lost the super bowl i got over it quicker than i would of since i had just finished the book. I liked the insight on what goes on and what goes through the NFL players head. You have got to read this inspirational book!



4. I haven't finished the book, but what i have read is excellent. It was well written, and I felt it explained in the details of his life.



5. Truly insperational. I love Tedy Bruschi and this shows the heart of a true sportsman and a great person. This book is easy to read and a must read if you are a PATS fan at all!

5 comments about Dan Rooney: My 75 Years With the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL.

1. I was really excited to get my hands on this book,and bitterly disappointed afterward. The personal stories and perceptions of Dan Rooney with such a long career. How great this book was going to be, or should have been. The two historians that wrote the book, didn't even fact check. Aliquippa on the Mon....... in the Steel Valley???? The Johnny Unitas information was so inaccurate. Johnny didn't call on many teams, ONLY ONE. He didn't write the letter. The coach of the Bloomfield Rams Semi Pro team had his wife do it. Why wouldn't you fact check???? Just two errors, but there are too many to detail (53). I'm sorry for Mr Rooney, he deserved more qualified writers. This could have been a great book.



2. If you are a Steeler fan, this is a great book. The history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is fascinating. There are great insights into players, coaches, current and former NFL commissioners, and other team owners. What is also clear is the quality of the ownership of the team. The Rooney family is a class act. Art Rooney ("The Chief") was quite the businessman. I had no idea how much he was involved in. The success of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a testament to "good guys win." I have a newfound admiration for the Rooney family and a new sense of pride as part of the "Steeler Nation."



3. I was very happy with the speedy delivery of this item. Condition was as promised! Very satisfied!!!!



4. A nice retrospective on one of the most successful franchises in sports over the past 35 years. The Steelers were equally as inept in their first 40 years, and that is covered too. Insights into many key moments in Steeler history - founding the team, cutting Johhny U, hiring Noll, Cowher & Tomlin, drafting of the Hall of Famers that dominated the 70's, passing on Dan Marino, and more. No big surprises, but an interesting, worthwhile read, especially for NFL fans and particularly any member of Steeler Nation.



5. This is a beautifully-written book that would be of interest even to those who don't know or care very much about football. Dan Rooney is the last of an important era in American football, and the authors have done a meticulous and caring job of capturing a significant piece of sports history. Don't miss this one!

5 comments about The Seventeen Traditions.

1. The Seventeen Traditions by Ralph Nader is an excellent book.
   I have one and would like to order more as gift for my friends.



2. For the money, it was not much of a book. For the talent accepted for the author, it was not much of a book. Simple platitudes which are mostly captured in the first chapter, and the rest of the book just re-hashes that theme: My parents were great, I am great, why don't you do likewise! Of course it is too late to change parents, but it does give some good foundation thinking for people just starting out to raise a family, and who are looking for some parenting skills.



3. I've long admired Ralph Nader and have enjoyed some of his
   other books . . . so when a friend recommended that I read his
   latest, THE SEVENTEEN TRADITIONS, I made it a point to get a copy.
   
   My only problem came afterwards; I couldn't put it down . . . so
   some other projects had to be aside as I read about Nader's
   boyhood in a small town in Connecticut, and how that existence
   and the role of his parents affected the rest of his life.
   
   As he notes:
   * I am often asked what forces shaped me. Rather than trying
   to give a full answer to that question-which would take
   longer than a limited interview would allow-I often reply
   simply, "I had a lucky choice of parents." My brother, two
   sisters, and I had a remarkable father and mother, who
   cared for us in both direct and subtle ways. The examples
   of their lives set us on the solid paths we have explored
   ever since.
   
   As I was reading it, I kept thinking of how my parents were
   similar in so many ways . . . in particular, this passage
   could almost have been written about them as well:
   
   * Mother and Father each lived to be just short of a century
   old; we benefited from their seasoned perspectives and
   wisdom for many, many years. They were forever young,
   exemplifying my mother's strong belief in the importance
   of remaining "interested and interesting." And they succeeded
   in doing this throughout their lives, attracting ever-younger
   friends to visit, whether we children were home or not. They
   created the strong family base from which my siblings and
   I sallied forth into the wider world, full of new experiences
   and high expectations.
   
   In sharing the lessons he learned from his parents, Nader
   also gave this advice that should be heeded by anybody raising
   children today:
   
   * Perhaps it was my father who best captured their attitude. Once,
   when I told him that I'd done my best at something, he leaned
   over quietly and looked at me. "Son, never say you did your
   best, because then you'll never try to do better."
   
   As the holiday season approaches, methinks that THE SEVENTEEN
   TRADITIONS would make a perfect gift for anybody wanting to
   read about life back when his or her parents were younger . . . and
   how much of what took place then could still be put into effect now.



4. A short book that reflects on society, democracy, and the peace
   of a good life.



5. This book offers greatly needed insight for a nation filled with antidotes, from fast-paced labeling of psychological disorders to quick fix prescription drugs and self-help book remedies. Ralph Nader takes the reader back to a slower paced society--a world enveloped by the wisdom of his parents. Chapter by chapter, Nader shares pithy, memorable maxims such as, "Jokes are to words as salt is to food" (81), along with other valuable scenarios which serve as life-enriching lessons. For a sampling of the earnest adult figure many of us may have missed while growing up, Nader's book is analogous in resource value (on a smaller scale) to The Discourses of Epictetus.

4 comments about Twist of Faith: The Story of Anne Beiler, Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels.

1. Since I am only 5 minutes from where Annie Beiler lives and am very familiar with the Auntie Anne business I was most interested in reading this book. I bought one as soon as it was available and read it in a short time. I must say that I did find it a bit confusing going back and forth from her past and present and I understood this when talking about the death of her daughter and how she has and will continue to impact her life, but with the entire book written that way it got a bit confusing. That is why I didn't feel that I could go higher than 3 stars. I must give her husband 5 stars for standing by her throughout her difficult times and she does not hesistate to give him credit. For those who do not know her business she has made a tremendous positive impact in our local community. I would recommend reading this book.



2. Although I did find the "back and forth" between the past and the present to be a little confusing, overall, this book is well worth reading because it shows many of today's problems cut across all social classes and religions. For instance, I was quite amazed at Anne's daughters not wanting to go to school, trying homeschooling, partying, etc. I would have expected her children to be more ambitious, somehow, but perhaps those are my own biases. At any rate, it seems the Catholics are not alone in terms of predatory priests, and it is really shocking that a Mennonite preacher could get away with such abuse for so long. It just undermines the whole fabric of the community. Anne internalized things, blaming herself, when it fact, it was the behavior of others that was wrong. One of the major thoughts I have after reading this book is that Anne never set out to do any of this, and accomplished an enormous amount, whereas many children from upper class families set out to "conquer the world," and never manage to do so. There is a lot to be learned from someone who does not come from wealth, but then becomes successful. The fact that she has shared so much of this wealth does put many others to shame, those who do not consider helping others in need.



3. I really enjoyed book. It was a bit confusing going back and forth between time lines, but book was well worth re-reading to catch timing.



4. This was a great book and it was exactly what I expected.
   Everyone should read this book. I could not put it down.I loved it.

5 comments about Helen Keller (Scholastic Biography).

1. I didn't really like Helen Keller. My favorite part is when Helen got her diploma because she was the first blind and deaf to graduate. I don't know how you can chan it was her life.I read it because it was a asiment.



2. My 8 year old just finished this book and was fascinated. I realized as I looked through it that I read it as a child and loved it too (as an 11 year old). My daughter is now eager to learn more about Braille and the consequences of being blind--though I had to ask her not to walk through the kitchen with her eyes closed. She loved the photos and can't wait to read about Annie Sullivan. A great book to show the triumph of the human spirit over adversity--and without pity!



3. This is the first chapter book I ever read. I am now 13 year olds and when I was in 1st grade I learned to read. In first grade I read this book and was hooked on reading forever after that. So thank you to the author!
   This book has 95 pages in it, I remember it seemed so long then!



4. I thank Hellen Keller is good for kids of all ages.MY favorite
   part was when she hit Anny Sullivan. My mom has a sister who is blind.And she had to learn to do alot of things also.Do you know
   she has a long red stick. I feelsory for my ant and Hellen keller.



5. I bought this book for my niece who is 9 yrs old. Helen Keller was a hero of mine as I was growing up. After reading this book, Helen has become a hero to my niece. Loved it.

5 comments about In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars.

1. The title of the book refers to Kevin Sites's project as a news correspondent for Yahoo!News to visit and report from all of the "hot zones" or places of armed conflict within the world in a one-year span. The bulk of the book consists of short chapters on each of twenty such hot zones. A second story concerns Sites's being at the wrong place at the right time and videotaping a Marine executing an unarmed and wounded Iraqi insurgent in a mosque near Falluja in November 2004, as well as the aftermath and public controversy, the ultimate questionable decision of U.S. military top brass not to charge any one, and the author's own wrestling with ethical issues (both journalistic and personal) raised by the incident.
   
   THE HOT ZONE is not a perfect book (primarily because it is too breezily written), but it surfaces enough issues of serious public import that it warrants five stars and wide readership within the United States. Probably the best way to give a feel for some of those issues is to quote Sites:
   
   "As the world's last remaining superpower, the American public's ambivalence about world affairs is not just regrettable but irritating and unacceptable." This is Sites's obsession. More: "We have unparalleled access to information, yet on the most important matters of our responsibility as global citizens, we live in information poverty. America is a third-world nation in its per capita knowledge of the people, issues and events outside its borders." The chief value of THE HOT ZONE is as one small corrective to that appalling ignorance and indifference.
   
   With regard to the American soldiers carrying out our government's policy and fighting in Iraq (as with the earlier generation of American soldiers in Vietnam): "[D]o we want to just say thank you * * * -- or do we need to try to understand that asking them to kill for us may also kill something inside of them?"
   
   "There are few good guys in this war [the current one in Iraq] -- or in the majority I have seen." In other words, in twenty hot zones Sites encountered few noble, morally pure warriors.
   
   "War poses as combat but is really collateral damage. * * * [S]ocieties are encouraged by their leaders to romanticize warriors and their weapons * * * while avoiding thoughts of the legacy of civil destruction they also bring." It is that collateral damage, the civil destruction Sites found in every one of his hot zones, that is the ultimate (and for me, most memorable, even haunting) subject of his journalism.
   
   Further on the credit side, I should mention and applaud a useful appendix that summarizes each of the "hot zones" -- including numbers dead and displaced, a timeline, and a paragraph on the current "conflict status" -- as well as a DVD ("A World of Conflict") that comes with the book.
   
   Now for a couple complaints:
   
   The narrative is sub-divided into brief, separately titled segments, many of which are only one to four paragraphs long and few of which extend more than two pages. For example, a six-page chapter on Lebanon consists of the following nine segments: My Afternoon with Hezbollah, Political Power, "Are You Just a Blog?", The Interview, Litany of Terror, Liberators?, Theocracy, Key Player, and One-Dimensional. To me, this presentation is annoying and overly derivative of the broadcast media, which has developed very constricting limitations that often seem to permit only one point per report, or one point per minute. A book is a different medium. If written with sufficient care and attention, it does not need to be so chopped up. Indeed, it suffers from the treatment; some of its potential power and depth are sacrificed.
   
   Second, at the bottom of the front cover there is the legend, "A portion of the author's royalties will be donated to charity." I see similar proclamations of generosity with increasing frequency. They too annoy me. Are we soon going to see plumbers advertise "I tithe to my church" or lawyers state "A portion of my fees will be donated to the Sierra Club"? Actually, the plumber's tithe at least implies 10%, while the nebulous "portion" that Sites and my hypothetical lawyer promise is almost meaningless (it could be as low as 1%, after all). Before this sort of gimmick is given any credence, the benefactor should at least commit himself to a specific percentage. Even then, and maybe I am hopelessly old-fasioned, I believe it unseemly to tout one's charity like this; it looks and smells too much like marketing. (It is different with concert performers or authors who dedicate all of their fees or royalties to a specific charity or cause. That clearly is fund-raising, not marketing.)



2. Sites' book is just fantastic. He chronicles his experience as an online journalist, giving background information that goes beyond the stories and features on his website.
   
   The most striking thing about the book is its structure: Each chapter is divided up into smaller sections, each quickly digestible and ideal for stopping. This book is great for reading on the bus or at work (you know who you are!)
   
   Sites makes a real effort not to give us "misery porn," and this book self-consciously details this effort. Sites obviously gets emotionally bogged down by the constant scenes of depression and poverty; going back to the structure of the book, each story, or anecdote, can strike you in a different way. While he writes about an amputee's miserable life in one snippet, another snippet describes the joy that same amputee experiences while singing. I think Sites really tries to balance every tear with a smile.
   
   This book also deals -- both implicitly and explicitly -- with issues in journalism and media/communications: ethics, professionalism, the role of media, new teachnologies, etc.
   
   An all-around good read, I don't rate many books this highly.



3. This is a tough book to read. Not in the sense that the writing lags or is difficult to comprehend; not in the sense that it isn't engaging and powerful; but purely because it's easy to forget (as Americans) that the world isn't quite as safe and wonderful as we so often innately believe.
   
   After reading this book, I was struck with an immense realization that there's a lot that's wrong in the world. The realization was overwhelming at times, which made me wonder how Sites was able to handle all the different scenarios over just the course of one year. This is the type of book that I'd love to drop in the hands of a post-modern thinker who would argue against absolute truth. You don't believe there's true, absolute evil in the world...tell that to the Colombian land mine victims or the child bride in Afghanistan.
   
   Despite the chilling realizations that this book brings, or perhaps because of it, you should read this book. It will open your eyes to the world and should motivate you to action.



4. Having lived & worked in some of the places Kevin writes about, I was amazed at his accuracy. Few writers grasp an in-depth understanding so well in such a short period of time.
   
   His title for part VII " My Third-World America: A Wealth of Information, A Poverty of Knowlege" struck a chord with me: I have long been amazed at the average American's lack of knowledge or even basic awareness of the world outside America's borders.
   
   Thank you Kevin for your insight and sacrifice in both your book and the Yahoo! Hot Zone project.
   
   Yahoo!, thank you for your supoort of the Hot Zone: I have now become a fan and investor: as you support an import project, I feel I must support you.



5. I first heard of Kevin Sites when he came to give a talk to a journalism class at my school, which I crashed. Because I have heard him speak, I admit that I was predisposed to like his book. What he attempted to do was amazing, and I was very glad to find this book at the airport bookshop while I was waiting for my flight. This book, though billed as "current events" is more of a memoir of his personal experiences in the conflict zones he covers. He gives the basic history of each, but what he does that is more valuable, in my opinion, is give a human face to the conflict. He tells the stories of those affected by these wars: the innocent bystanders, the soldiers, and the victims. I wish he could have given more depth to each but it was a necessary weakness when he was only in each area for a few short weeks.

5 comments about Storkbites: A Memoir.

1. I would never have imagined I could enjoy a memoir until I read the first page of Storkbites. I was pulled right into the book and found myself staying up late many nights, reading about the author's life. Her book is filled with the right amount of detail making the reader feel like the events took place just moments before she wrote them. She looks at herself and her family with unabashed frankness. The story gives hope to each one of us, that every family may have its issues but that some can succeed regardless. Etienne is sure to be a writer whose talent will keep us entertained and enthralled far into the future. Her fresh outlook and gentle voice make reading Storkbites a pleasurable and poignant adventure!



2. Marie Etienne did an incredible job with her first novel "Storkbites." I found myself feeling what she felt in living in a dysfunctional and abusive family in childhood and to her own abusive behavior as she became an adult. Her use of beautiful words immediately transformed you into feeling the area and the feelings that this family went through. This book will make you laugh, cry and be angry that these children had to grow up in such an environment. I say bravo to the author for realizing she needed to change these patterns in raising her own boys. Storkbites is a must read for everyone .



3. This book propels the reader through the roller coaster ride that was Marie Etienne's life growing up in south Louisiana. A ride loaded with alcoholism, physical abuse, drug abuse, murder, suicide, neglect, wealth, love and hate - all the issues that can make any book enthralling. But these issues were all a part of Marie Etienne's family life. The reader will find it unbelievable that this is a true story. I applaud Marie for the courage it took to write her story and especially for surviving her story.



4. Storkbites: A Memoir, is the story of a rich girl growing up in the South. The big family may look picture perfect on their public outings, but all is not well in the big house. With honesty, and not much fluff, Etienne brings out the truth with her intelligent and easy to read style. It makes you wonder how many more stories she has up her sleeve?



5. Marie Etienne's Storkbites about her childhood growing up in a loving, yet verbally and physically abusive family in Lafayette, LA draws you in like the savory smells of down home southern cooking. With Money, a big house, luxury cars, Mardi Gras balls, a sweet father, a mother who cooks and cares for her NINE children, this Catholic family suddenly turns from perfect to unbelievably chaotic and cruel. Etienne's parents are alcoholics with deep-rooted problems, shocking behavior, and no clue how to raise children. Each of Marie's eight siblings are interesting characters with distinct personalities you grow to care about. Some of them don't come out of this nice-and-brutal lifestyle as well as Marie did. Her openness and honesty about herself is courageous and admirable.
   
   This book is a page turner, by a talented writer, with a wry sense of humor and easy way of expressing herself. She uses a format which alternates back and forth from present to past to present, which pulls you in and keeps you hooked. Her lists of favorite Louisiana dishes and seafood make a Louisiana native crave the familiar Cajun dishes. Anyone who is not from the south gets a flavor of southern vernacular and traditions.
   
   This story would make a great movie, better than Steel Magnolias or Crimes of the Heart. I highly recommend it to anyone. Keep writing, Marie.

5 comments about Outlaw Biker: My Life At Full Throttle.

1. I'm not a biker, but one doesn't have to ride to get a rush from this witty and warm memoir. The author is a real character, and his personality is clearly in his pen as he recalls a life that is colorful, hard as the road he's traveled, and full of fireworks. Compared to Mr. Hayes's experiences, my own life barely makes it to pastel.



2. I've read alot of this kind of books and they all sound the same. Somebody tells his story. Most of the autobiography books have the same base line, the Biker Lifestyle, or at least the way they saw it, or experienced it.I would like it if the people that have spent the time to write a book about themselfs, would write a fiction story about the lifestyle. Give us,the public,something different. Tell us a story!!!



3. This book is nothing more than a boring tale of a criminal that just happens to ride a motorcycle. Outlaw Bikers are just that, outlaws and criminals. The real bikers out there are the mothers and fathers who share the same passion for riding but also live their lives the right way, which is legally. Here is Richard Hayes bragging about doing his drugs and being a criminal, big deal....I put individuals like that behind bars all the time. This is a boring book, just another story of some misguided soul, and unfortunately I happened to read it. The unfortunate picture painted here is that his life has been romanticized and people buy into the Outlaw Biker image. I've known quite a few over the years, but their lives haven't been romantic, most of them have spent large amounts of time behind bars away from family and friends. What's romantic about that? Anyways, before I start rambling about nothing like Richard Hayes did, don't waste your time with this book, it's not worth the effort. Like I mentioned before, the real hard-core bikers are the ones who accept the responsibilities before us all, living a law-abiding life, earning an honest living, and not preying upon the weaknesses of others.



4. I found "Deadeyes" book very interesting. But I enjoy hearing about peoples journey through life. Everybody has a story to tell. Some take the time to put it in book form. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about a fellow bikers life and his personal history.



5. First off, the book is not terribly well written. It's almost as if the stories were simply dictated and typed out.
   
   As a biography, it's relatively weak. There is little insight into the author/main character and some of the material seems to stretch credulity. The author seems unable to examine his own lifestyle in any detail or with any real honesty.
   
   Some of the stories are interesting for a while, but it's not a very good book and you'll grow bored with it in a hurry.

5 comments about I Knew You Could!: Celebrate All the Stops in Your Life (Little Engine That Could).

1. I read this book to my graduating preschoolers every year. This year I bought a copy for each of my graduates!



2. I purchased this book for my daughter. I felt it was the perfect gift for someone who is graduating from high school. The message about tracks taken and/or not taken in life is especially relevant to young adults as they begin to venture out into the world. My daughter thought it was great and she believes the message will be valuable throughout her life.



3. This is a book that follows the I Think I Can Book, about the little train, It is a wonderful book for anyone that needs a little boost of self-esteem, or courage. It is perfect for those that are graduating or who have completed a difficult task in their life. I would recommend it to anyone.



4. I am an elementary school teacher and also the mother of 4. My oldest is graduating from high school this year. After I read this book, I bought several. One for my son and several for his friends. I also sent it to my nephew that is leaving for a mission to Honduras for the next 2 years. It's a perfect book for those that are heading off in new directions in their lives and it gives them advice and encouragement! I love it!



5. This is the most inspirational book I have read in a long time!! Recommended for all ages