5 comments about A Long Way from Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland in the Forties and Fifties.

1. I can relate to this book. My parents lived through the Depression and raised their children in the prosperous sixties and seventies. They live in northern Wisconsin where most of the population was white. The similarites with Brokaw's South Dakota is basically the same. As a product of the Midwest, Brokaw is more similar to me than Rather (Texas) or Jennings (Canada).
   I enjoyed this simple story. Tom relates how he made it in televison journalism and New York. Despite where he lives now, he considers himself at home in South Dakota rather than New York. Tom chronicles his early life and relates how and where he was raised even now determine his outlook on life. I feel the same way and that is why this book struck home. I would rather tramp the forests of northern Wisconsin than see the lights of Chicago. People make their way in life in some measure because of who they were born to and where they lived. Tom's rural life and his parents survival of the Depression determined a lot of what Tom eventually turned out to be. A great story.



2. A very interesting book that brings back a lot of memories for me, growing up in North Dakota during the same time period. I guess we were pretty much raised the same in this area. I am just now realizing that we were all pretty much in the same boat (we didn't have much, but we didn't realize it).



3. This is an excellent and heartwarming book about growing up in South Dakota. Brokaw, easily the most intelligent, fair and personable of the network news anchors, goes into what made him what he is today -- growing up in America's heartland, the struggles of his father and mother, his life growing up, and his temporary descent into idiothood -- before pulling back and marrying his college sweetheart.
   
   An excellent and highly literate book! I heartily recommend it to anyone who likes biographies.



4. Brokaw gives a seemingly honest and direct account of his formative years. His respect and admiration for his parents gives him guidelines for a life in the limelight where it may be easy to loose one's footing.
   
   It is interesting to get a glimpse of the life in the heartland of the U. S. in the forties and fifties when so much of my own perception of the U. S. from a Scandinavian viewpoint was formed.
   
   Congratulations to Tom Brokaw for a fine book!



5. One reviewer called this book "for simpletons by a simpleton." Well, as I have very little respect for today's mainstream media, especially Dan Rather and Katie Couric, Brokaw, though preachy, is better than most. This book is a simple book, but it's also pleasant and does lend insight into his modest upbringing in South Dakota---far different from what the elites usually value.
   
   I read it while I drove cross country, which is probably why I gave it 3 stars, rather than 2, as I appreciated it more.
   
   Brokaw may be biased and pedantic now, but he's no ninnyhammer either. He covered stories with some depth, and was rarely lazy or a liar, like Rather. And he worked hard to get where he was, without modern affirmative action. The stories of Big Sky country and the "tragedies" he observed befalling the "Natives" when he returned were unnecessary and awkward, though.
   
   He's still better than Brian Williams.

5 comments about Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science.

1. I find this book which has gotten such rave reviews disappointing. Dr. Gawande addresses a number of issues which are pertinent to surgical practice. However,I found the book to be superficial and lacking of "heart".
   
   I will elicudate. Dr. Gawande states frequently that surgeons slash their way into a patient.I suspect that this is for dramatic effect.There are other examples of this such as the description of an autopsy.He tones it down later.He treds lightly on the fact that doctors don't want to own their mistakes which is why there is no improvement in medical care over 20 years ago despite huge advances in both technology and costs.
   
   The only Surgeon I have ever known who "slashed" his way into a patient ended up losing his privileges...thank God but it took many years and a yeoman's effort and those who spoke up were alienated and shunned. It was not as simple as is portrayed in this book.I do laud him for bringing up the "good doctors going bad" issue. It is a huge problem and bad doctors are often covered for years and years while patients are repetitively injured. It is also very harmful to the doctor who is creating the problem. The cost of this problem to patients, hospitals and society is staggering.
   
   I looked up the reference that computers were better than doctors at diagnosis. It is not about medical diagnosis, it was about psychologists' diagnosis. The second article was from 1954...A bit dated. before the computer era.
   
   I laud him for the courage in mentioning his screwed up tracheostomy attempt. There are numerous methods for both intubation and percutanous guided tracheostomy techniques that have been available for 20 years. I have to wonder why he was unaware of these. The technique that he describes for subclavian vein cathethers is also not as safe as other methods which use a small guage finding needle. I have to wonder why 20-30 years after these problems were identified that this young doctor was not being instructed in these techniques.
   
   His chapter on bariatric surgery is notable for his mentioning of the commercialization of medicine an increasingly dangerous trend is appropriate. At this point bariatric surgery has been shown to be helpful for a large number of patients, but without question medicine has been commercialized.
   
   His section on uncertainty is the best part of this book. He saved the best for last.
   
   Nonetheless, I find his "laissez-faire" attitude to these problems even more worrisome.I find little actual feeling that he cared about his patients in this book. This is not surprising as it pervades medicine today.
   
   I haven't found this book to be a thriller.It lacks depth of character. If he had connected with us and his patients emotionally I believe that it would have been a much more powerful work.



2. An amazing thriller...
   
   Dr.Atul's superb portrayal of finest qualities of a doctor, yet the limitations of an individual, their weekness,strengths, system flaws etc with vivid examples of real life cases makes "Complications" the best medical book I'v ever read.It's not the content of the book alone that deserves appreciation, it's also the flow of words that blend with the topic.
   
   Certainly the pinnacle of the book is the story of Joseph Lazaroff, Atul's Anguish depicting the finest of human character and also the professionalism of a doctor, also his questions behind the ethics of "absolute insane rights of patient's expression". I felt a pain in the heart for that "unknown soul" ( a gist of that chapter is below)
   
   Chapter : Whose body is it Anyway :
   ...I turned the ventilator off, and the suddenly the room was quiet .His breathing slowed ...Joseph Lazaroff had died.But Knowing how much Lazaroff had dreaded dying the way he died....
   
   Chapter : Education of a Knife:
   I said to the patient that there were "slight risks" involved.And the disasters weighed on my mind: the woman who had died from massive bleeding, the man who had to have a chest opened, the man who had a cardiac arrests.I said nothing of such things when I asked my patient's permission to do this
   
   Chapter : When Doctors Make Mistakes:
   At 2 A.M on a crisp friday in winter a few years agao, I was in sterile gown , pulling a teenage knifing victim's abdomen open, when my pager sounded "code trauma, three minutes"
   
   Chapter : When Good doctor's Go bad:
   Before the license of Dr.Goodman was taken away, he was a highly respected and sought after surgeon...he could do some of the best, most brilliant work around....In one case , he put the wrong-size screw into a patient's ankle,another case when he refused to do hip replacement. For the last several years, he was the defendent of a stream of malpractice suits.
   
   Chapter : The Man Who Cannot stop Eating :
   ...He had to let his legs apart to let his abdomen sag between them. He cannot lie down and breath properly because of excess fat in the tongue and upper airway. He had to sleep in the recliner and every thirty minutes or so , he would wake up asphyxating, He could no longer stand up to urinate, he had to shower after moving his bowels to get clean
   
   A Must Read book...Afterall, someday you might be an example in his future books!



3. I just couldn't finish this book! I thought it would be better--but as I am reading the words they are more and more unfamiliar. I don't want to read a book where you spend more than 3/4 of the time looking up the words!



4. The first part of the book is the typical medical error conversation - the system needs changes, but, instead, the last doctor to touch a patient is always ultimately responsible. The last two sections of the book are full of interesting patient stories and antecdotes, leaving the reader with a sense of "why do I pay so much for services that are not consistent and not scientifically proven?" Gawande does an excellent job pointing out some of the uncertaintaties of medicine and some of the major health disparities and inequalities - the poor are usually the ones that are used as training tools for interns and residents, and receive subpar-care compared to the well-insured.
   
   A very easy and quick read.



5. Atul Gawande gratefully takes the reader to the back of the OR, a place open for a few, yet intriguing for many. Dr. Gawande is extremely frank and poignant, as he describes actual cases from his own surgical practice. He admits that cutting someone open for the first time is hell, praises surgery which gives chance to obese people, wonders about doctor's intuition, and remains human in every case.
   
   As always, Atul Gawande is not just writing about medicine; this book reaches far beyond the realm of the operating room. He touches on the most complicated ethical questions of medicine and society as a whole. Gawande speaks of mistakes and our imperfect judgment; tackling the questions of good doctors gone bad along with malpractice claims and punishments. He makes the case for autopsy as a means of learning. He admits that medical students must practice on cadavers or animals in order to cut people open; all ethical questions are answered by means of vivid examples.
   
   For instance, in the 1980s the death rate from a particular surgery would be about 10%. When the new surgical treatment of heart pathology arose, surgeons started trying the novice. At that training period, the rate of children death from this particular intervention increased to 25% of cases. Sounds horrible? Yes, but after surgeons learned, the rate fell down to just a couple percent. Was it worth it? Sure, granted the number of lives saved in the long run. Never, granted now many kids died just due to surgeons' learning. Would any doctor let anyone practice on his own kid? Never. At the same time, learning is a necessary part of medical progress.
   
   Those questions dominate the book; Gawande ponders at the patient's right to choose, reminds us that doctors are human and prone to mistakes, reveals mysteries of complications, which are usually open only during the M&M - Mortality and Morbidity Conference behind the closed door. Gawande is not afraid to open the doors. Moreover, he is confident that openness is the only way to reduce the complications.
   
   I almost wanted to say the book is too idealistic, except it's written by a person whose profession is to think realistically. Great book!

5 comments about All over but the Shoutin'.

1. I read this book after loving AVA'S MAN. I was less enthralled with ALL OVER, which was written first. From reviews, I expected it to be a paean to his momma. That it was, early on and again at the end. But I couldn't help thinking that for a woman to sacrifice so much for her children is not so exceptional--most of us sacrifice more than our children will ever know--and that he was perhaps too attached to her. His lack of any real emotional connection to any of his many "girlfriends" made me think that he needed to mature and to depend less on his attachment to his momma. Like other reviewers, I was less interested in his climb to the Pulitzer, but I adjusted to the switch of focus. It turned into an autobiography, and his many "clips" from stories that he wrote were very interesting. Overall, I think the second half is just not as gripping as the first and the switch was somewhat jarring.



2. If you have not lived part of this book you won't get it. If your hardest moment in life was not making the team or getting dumped by a girl then you won't understand Rick's story. But if you've been there, espicially if you've been there and you grew up in the South, then this book will resonate with you in deep and meaningful ways that won't make much good logical sense. After you have your first good throat aching cry you'll experience a measure of the healing that All Over But The Shout'in can bring to a life that started hard.
   
   More than a book. A story told with honesty. A witness. A testimony that speak to the soul.



3. I was raised in North Alabama. Rick Bragg's ability to paint the picture of life in that part of the South blows my mind. It is perfect, as if he reached into my head and threw my own thoughts and memories onto the pages of this book. It is real, unapologetic and stubborn...just as it should be. It helped bring me back to a world I left years ago and understand why I love and hate it so much.
   
   What a wonderful writer, his sentences are so packed full of vivid descriptions it almost made me tired at first. Honest to God, I had to put it down a few times because I needed to let the images digest before going back for more. I usually devour books within a day or two. This one I chose to savor, slowly a chapter at a time. He is now one of my favorites!



4. I bought this book based upon all the hundreds of positive reviews but almost instantly regretting the purchase. I found Mr. Bragg's writing style annoying. What works in a newspaper article doesn't seem to work for books. Mainly, I found the one liners coy (I think they were supposed to be zingers that put the chapter in perspective or gave it an ironic twist, or tried to overdramatize the chapter.) Whatever the reason, I hated the last lines of each chapter and felt they were smug and insulting. Really, please let me make my own emotional discovery at your words, don't insult me by forcing me to have the same emotional discovery you had when you wrote them.
   
   Another annoying Mr. Bragg's has is another dramatic writers trick of starting many sentences with the same words. For example, the following string of sentences:
   "He never said he was sorry.
   He never said he wished things had turned out differently."
   He never acted like he did anything wrong."
   
   This trick is over used and jolts the reader out of the story. If you don't know what I mean, go to the library and read the prologue. Ugh.
   
   Usually I stop reading a book that is this annoying but it was the only book available to me and I was stuck with it.



5. I have never read, heard, seen a better picture of the South than that in the first five pages of this book. Not the Scarlett O'Hara fictional Old South, but the real red clay and hard rocky ground of the Upland where the overwhelming majority of people live.
   This should be mandatory reading for anyone who trying to understand the current presidential election. You'll learn more about who these people are and why they do what they do than you will by listening to any political pundit or blogger.
   It's also a great read. Bragg is a skilled and honest writer who is not afraid to show the whole picture, warts and all.

5 comments about Angela's Ashes: A Memoir.

1. A great read of mind candy and truth. Mr McCourt has great courage in telling all of the embarasing and private moments of his adolescence. The same types of things that happened to many of us but we'll never disclose.
   READ THIS BOOK. I could not put it down and read it in one evening and then went out and bought the 2 sequals Tis and Teacher Man and could not put them down either.



2. I though Angela's Ashes was a good memoir of a family during World War II. My favorite character was Frank because it was fun to see him grow up, and see how he changed over the course of this book. I thought that Angela did as much as she could to try and get her family through World War II, and I thought she did a good job, considering the help she was receiving. My least favorite character was Malachy. Malachy was always drunk, and he would always waste away the family's money. I felt that he only thought about himself. Unfortunately, most people who are addicted to drugs only think out for themselves, because all they are thinking of is getting drugs for them. I would definitely recommend this book, and give it four stars. I would recommend Angela's Ashes to high school students because it does cover a serious issue and the humor might not be appropriate for younger students. Overall I think the book is a winner!



3. Was a gift for my daughter who rarely reads and she loves it. Read it through in a couple of days.



4. Frank McCourt chronicles the story of his life in the streets of Ireland, his family living a life of poverty and hard luck. Somehow, he is able to make what should be a bleak story uplifting with his wit, humor and straight-forward approach to telling a story. Sometimes he gives you TOO much of the story, things you would rather not have heard--but I guess this is because it is a memoir. There is a certain amount of haphazardness to his writings...there are many times where you have no clue where this is going. But, at other times, there is an effort to be sentimental about the few things he has in life, or the hope of better days ahead.
   
   An interesting style McCourt uses to write the book, where he virtually uses no punctuation during the many dialogue scenes. He also has many, many run-on, wordy, and obtuse sentences that would probably have one of his master's in school up in arms. It took me awhile to get used to this "rambling" kind of style, and, as an English major, it almost had ME up in arms, but actually, after reading the book, the pace of book quickens because of this style. There was enough of a compelling and engaging story to care too much about punctuation, or lack thereof.
   
   As far as content itself, McCourt's story was highly entertaining and somewhat touching. While the young Frank is at school, he meets one strict school master after another, and he deals with the peer pressure from some of his classmates. The young Frank tries to keep all of the disappointments and failures and embarrassments behind him by reminding himself that one day things will change for him in America. There are times when Frank goes to the library to escape the world, knowing that he can escape into a story: "It's lovely to know that the world can't interfere with the inside of your head." Frank also experiences some time in the hospital with fever and eye problems, and in his first visit he meets Patricia, a girl who teaches him poetry. When he gets separated from her for talking to her, it is one of Frank's saddest moments: "Nurses and nuns never think you know what they're talking about...You can't ask questions. You can't show you understand what the nurse said about Patricia Madigan, that she's going to die, and you can't show you want to cry over this girl who taught you a lovely poem which the nun says is bad." Frank also deals with the trials of being in a family with an alcoholic father who rarely comes up, spends up the family's earnings, and some other dysfunctional relatives. He keeps hope that one day things will change for the better.
   
   While the story is highly engaging, one thing that irked me was the abruptness of the ending. Without giving too much away, the memoir just seemingly ends without any deep moment or thought. The incident with Frank and the woman--- is that suppose to be some momentous or life-changing event? It seemed kind of stupid to end the book right there. It also made the book seem a little uneven; after all, here is Frank preaching about how he wants to help his family in the future, and then what does he go and do in the book's conclusion?
   
   Criticism aside, this is an enjoyable read, which I honestly didn't think would be possible based on what I had heard about the story. McCourt is able to intertwine humor and heart-break in a way I've never seen done before.



5. Frank McCourt has a way with words! His memoir of growing up poor in Ireland, with a drunk for a father and lazy, shiftless mother is written without malice. He and his brothers are left to their own devices to keep themselves fed, warm and clothed when Frank, the oldest is not even four years old. They live in a house where the main floor floods every year and they have to wade through the sewage to live in the remaining room upstairs until the water recedes. They grow so cold that they resort to tearing the walls apart for firewood. And yet his mother needs her cigarettes and his father needs his drink.
   
   Frank's tenacity and humor in the midst of such misery is his salvation. And it is what makes this memoir so poignant. His own parents and grandparents, neighbors and the Catholic church leave Frank and his brothers to their own devices for survival. And they survive! And go to America. And it's a true story.

5 comments about The Snake Charmer: A Life and Death in Pursuit of Knowledge.

1. I've been into herps since 1970.This book is this generations Cobras in his Garden by Kursh.It is a unique look into the life and death of a very gifted man.Joe Slowinski.I was a bit troubled by what I consider an "aloof" atitude in the way he handled venomous snakes. I truly would have loved to have met him.The world of science has a great void to fill.
   Rest in peace Joe.



2. The Snake Charmer is one of two books I plucked from Dr. Al Mohler's suggested reading list for dads. It is a book that is rather unlike any I've read before. It is a biographical account of the life of Joe Slowinski, one of the world's great herpetologists. Slowinski dedicated his life to studying snakes and, in particular, poisonous snakes.
   
   In 2001, Slowinski led an expedition of biologists and botanists as they traveled through the jungles of Burma. It was there that he was bitten by a many-banded krait, the most deadly snake in Asia and one of the most deadly snakes in the world. A world away from any kind of hospital or clinic, Slowinski knew that his chances of survival were slim. It was this quote, provided by Dr. Mohler, which gave me an interest in reading the book:
   
   "As his friends gathered around, Joe calmly explained what was happening to him. No one in the world knew more about the venom of Bungarus multicinctus than Joe Slowinski. He described the effects of a slowly deepening paralysis: The snake's venom works on several different parts of the nervous system simultaneously, blocking the nerve impulses that transmit instructions to the muscles, including those required to maintain life. There will be no pain, he told them. "First my eyelids will drop; I won't be able to hold them up." Soon he would lose the ability to speak and move his limbs, he said. Within a few hours, his respiratory system would shut down: The paralyzed central nervous system would be unable to instruct the diaphragm to breathe, causing a swift death by asphyxiation...
   
   "As the morning wore on, Joe's physical condition deteriorated precisely as he had predicted it would. In stark contrast to the hysteria that prevailed after Joe was bitten by the cobra when he was filming with the National Geographic team, the scene at the schoolhouse in Rat Baw was wonderfully calm, even solemn. Joe lay down on his sleeping bag in his tent, with Moe Flannery and Guin Wogan lying next to him to provide human warmth and comfort. The men quietly gathered nearby. Joe asked someone to find an Ace bandage he could wrap around his right forearm to slow the traffic of blood and lymph in his hand, though by now the toxin had passed throughout his body. There was nothing more to be done except wait and see how serious the bite was."
   
   Written by Jamie James, The Snake Charmer is a good and interesting account of the life of this man. He is a man who is hard to like--he was brash and immature and obnoxious; he was committed to understanding nature through a Darwinian lens and had only venom for creationists. Yet he was a man who loved God's creatures and who fought to understand and preserve them. Woven into the book are many interesting facts about some of God's least-understand and most-feared creatures. This book is an easy read and a perfect selection for a warm summer day outdoors.



3. This is an excellent account of a very sad event. The author goes in to detail about Dr. Slowinskis life as well as his tragic death. The events leading up to the end are an exciting story regarding herpetology and world travel. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in herpetology, anthropology or travel. For all of us that work with snakes it is a warning and "wake up call" as to what NOT to do. Buy it....well worth the price.
   Larry Cartmill, Ph.D.
   Huntington, WV



4. When I first heard about Joe Slowinski's bizarre and tragic death by snakebite in Burma, I was fascinated and wanted to learn more. The moment I saw this book, I grabbed it---an impulse move that was a lot safer than Joe's impulsive grab into the snake bag containing the krait.
   
   This book is riveting, being simultaneously a character study, an adventure story, a peek into the world of academic science, and a biology primer. It succeeds in all categories, making it almost impossible to put down and haunting afterwards. The author's writing is concise yet accurate and descriptive.
   
   As a trained biologist and a herpetologist on the hobbyist level, I appreciated Joe's fascination with snakes. I am a turtle person myself (oddly, nothing much is said about the turtle people in the prestige rankings among herpetologists) but have also had a snake. I can verify that herp meetings that feature snakes have had nearly all male attendance, as Mr. James states. Snakes exert a draw for a certain type of person, exemplified in Joe Slowinski, that other reptiles don't. They have magic.
   
   Like all possessed geniuses, Joe Slowinski would not have been easy to live with, but he contributed immensely to the life around him. It is so tragic that he did not get to fulfil his lifespan. I think the last 2 sentences in Mr. James's "Sources and Methods" afterword sums it up so well: "..it's the great gap at the end I regret most of all. It's a peculiar kind of sadness to feel sorely the loss of someone I never met."
   
   Highly recommended, for readers of all ages and backgrounds.



5. Jamie James has written a fascinating account of the life (and unfortunately, premature death) of Joe Slowinski, and woven into the narrative details about herpetology in general and various snake species in particular. Joe was charismatic, brilliant, and impulsive. His sad, tragic end is not made easier to accept but becomes more understandable against the backdrop of Joe's entire life. Both he and Steve Irwin brought an infectious enthusiasm to the study of herpetology, and both their lives were tragically cut short. They will both be sorely missed.

5 comments about Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America.

1. I spent three and a half years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran and became intimately familiar with Persian (Farsi) culture. But I learned many things from this book; it also serves a moral lesson to all "Amrikayi" about their rush to judgment to condemn a group of people for what some of them have done without being preachy. In spite of all that it was hilarious reading at so many different levels.
   
   And if this is a repeat, my apologies as I had lost track of the book in mid read and just finished it.



2. This easy read is full of humor and gives the reader a different way of looking at everyday items and events, from Twinkies, Kentucky Fried Chicken to holidays like Christmas. A friend lent her copy to us and my entire family enjoyed it so much we purchased our own copy plus the author's latest book. Read it for yourself to see how people are really more alike than they are different, and just see if you can contain the laughter.



3. This book is really fun to read and also give an insight about Iranian. I recommend it to everybody. It is a great gift to give.
   
   Poopak



4. I read this book while on vacation with my husband and our two boys (ages 11 and 8), then my older son read it out loud to all of us during the time we were traveling by car in Italy. All of us laughed out loud as we listened to Dumas' touching and endearing, but oh-so-funny stories of her and her family's experiences in America. She is poignant and honest and brilliant. Her stories reminded us that we often have more in common with those who may seem different from us than we realize, whether those people are from a different country or from our own extended families. Now that we are back in America, we cannot wait to read her new book!



5. The author has a knack for finding and telling the funny part of every situation. It was delightful to read her take on her experiences. Her tales are so entertaining, I was sad when the book was finished.
   
   Thankfully, she has a new book out and I am ordering it NOW!
   
   This is one book I will keep so I can reread stories whenever I need a good laugh.
   
   It was refreshing to see how similar(in all the positive ways)families from differnt cultures actually are.

5 comments about Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter.

1. "If you had not been born, mama would still be alive, she died because of you. Your bad luck," said Adeline's big sister.
   
   Adeline Yen Mah lives with her brothers and sister, her father and her step mother, Niang, and don't forget Aunt Baba. Aunt Baba is the only one that listens to Adeline. Everyone ignores her and is very mean her. They think that she is bad luck.
   
   This is my favorite book in the whole wide world. I love this book because it shows how other people are treated in other countries. When I was reading this book, I would stay up till 11:00! This book is very hard to put down. If you read about Adeline Yen Mah, be prepared to shead a tear. There are happy and funny parts, but mostly depressing parts.
   
   Chinese Cinderella is definitely five star book. I would recommend this book to ages 11 and up. This was my summer reading book and has been my favorite book since!
   
   -Olivia Liu



2. "My face was probably smeared with a mixture of blood, mucus and tears. I stood in front of my classmates. I felt naked and ghastly. I had been so careful to pretend that I came from a loving family."
   Chinese Cinderella is an extremely sad story written by Adeline Yen Mah. This book tells the story of Adeline, a young girl with talent who is hated by her family. It takes place in China during the 1940s when the communist are starting to take over. Adeline only has a few friends because of the hatred that is going on between her and many of her family members. Her best friend is her own aunt Baba. If you enjoy extremely depressing books then this book is for you, otherwise do not even pick up this book!!!
   
   !Warning!
   
   This book increases depression by 20% while reading!



3. My 6th grade class just finished reading this novel. The majority of us absolutely loved it. We had great discussions about how Adeline's parents never appreciated what wonderful gifts she had to offer in life. Also- we were all amazed how tragic her life was and her ability to overcome the continual abuse. The major reason why some of my classmates did not enjoy the book was because it was simply too sad. Every teacher in middle school should give their students the opportunity to read this work.



4. Chinese Cinderella is a memoir, also known as a story of bravery endurance and a strong little girl who goes by the name of Adeline. Adeline ,also known as the Chinese Cinderella, needs to be brave to survive life. she has great endurance when it comes to school. Adeline is a strong character when it comes to her family because they tease and beat her. The setting of Chinese Cinderella was obviously in china. In the middle of the book the Chinese were having a war against the French. Adeline's mother died because of her birth. As a result she was considered "bad luck". Another conflict is she has an evil step mother whom has two kids and treats them like they are the only kids in the house. Her relationship between her and her father sucks one reason is because he does not even know her own birthday.



5. I couldn't put this book down, being 1/2 chinese myself I loved the historical comments found in this book and could relate to some of the coldness shown to her by her family. Favortism runs deep in this book as it does in alot of chinese families as well as american families. I felt sad while reading this book yet her strength and determination was inspiring and so powerful throughout this whole story. A great story for all to read.

5 comments about Alexander Hamilton.

1. After an unlikely escape from the backwaters of the colonial Caribbean, Alexander Hamilton fought in the American Revolution as a young firebrand, supported the U.S. Constitution as a brilliant author and New York lawyer, and poured his formidable genius and energy into laying the foundations of modern America as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. With George Washington shielding Hamilton's financial programs from smart and unrelenting critics, Hamilton successfully built a fiscal superstructure that pulled the United States out of bankruptcy and set the nation on a course to become the greatest industrial and commercial power on Earth.
   
   Chernow's epic biography is more than a little sympathetic to Hamilton, though honest and critical of Hamilton's significant and ultimately fatal flaws (e.g., the Reynolds sex scandal and Hamilton's inability to absorb criticism without hitting back). This is a minor weakness, leading at worst to some authorial disdain for Hamilton's critics. They are at times presented as underhanded, malicious, and viciously paranoid when they were were often simply naive in their dreams of an American utopia and terrified of falling prey to an American monarchy--not an unreasonable fear with most of the world still under kings and despots. The length of this biography may be intimidating to some readers, but Chernow writes in a voice that is both informative and engaging, even poetic. It's hard to imagine a more definitive biography will be soon forthcoming of this misunderstood and sometimes unfairly maligned Founding Father.



2. Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton was a great read that included a remarkable amount of information on the man, as well as all the important characters who shared the stage with Hamilton during his 49 years. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which felt nothing like its length.
   
   It was an enlightening experience to read the book because much of my knowledge of Hamilton came from biographies on his many rivals or books on the period. Hamilton was an opinionated, controversial and insecure man, but he was quite ethical in his professional life. I was worried that a Hamilton book would be bogged down with too much economics, but Chernow did a great job of presenting that important information is an understandable manner.
   
   The reason I can't quite give this book a 5-star rating was its overly sympathetic nature. Yes, most bios are partial to the subject, but this one took that to the extreme. Chernow gave ample coverage to the controversial events in Hamilton's life, though he tended to make excuses for them. Every sentence written about Jefferson, Adams and post-1789 Madison were very negative, as Chernow selected the unflattering quotes from those men in a way that would elevate Hamilton. If you were to read the second and third volumes of Dumas Malone's series on Jefferson, and follow it up by reading Chernow's book, you'd think they were writing about completely different eras, or that they were family members of their respective subjects.
   
   But since this book is eye-opening and filled with so much information, in a beautifully written account, I highly recommend it. It made me see Hamilton in a different light and understand more fully why he was such a powerful figure in the early American republic.



3. Ron Chernow has written an informative, detailed, wholly engaging biography of one of the most interesting and controversial founding fathers. This book is a delightful read through the history of the forging of the United States of America.



4. The other reviewers of this book are right on -- Hamilton's influence in American political history is truly significant -- he is probably the most influential Founding Father never to have served as president. His vision for a unified country recorded in the Federalist Papers are truly remarkable and his influence on the economy of this country with his position as the first Treasury Secretary and his vision for a federal bank last to this day.
   
   I actually listened to the 10 set CD series of this book and the time just flew by -- the book is fascinating and Chernow does a great job of giving significant historical details on everyone who comes into contact with Hamilton -- from Washington to Jefferson to Jay and Burr. The portion of Hamilton's life which resulted in his affair are a great life lesson for every man, especially those in positions of leadership!
   
   Every student of history should buy this book (or listen to the CDs) -- Hamilton was a man history can not ignore.



5. It was my ambition in college to someday write a biography of the most neglected of the Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton. I talked about it, read a few of the biographies out there. Forrest McDonald's was the best, I thought.
   
   Then last spring I borrowed from the Meredith, NH, public library this book by the incomparable Ron Chernow. I read it on the our family trip to Virginia. Visiting Redoubt 10 at Yorktown, horribly neglected by Americans, was an intense emotional experience for me.
   
   I've learned from Dennis Prager that the best way to learn history is through biographies. None are better, I've found, than this. In fact, after reading it, I had to purchase my own copy.
   
   That's how much I value Ron Chernow's absolutely magnificent biography. Embracing Christianity at the end of Hamilton's life shows me what side he'd take in the cultural war. How we could use his exemplary industry and brilliance now! Only he could overshadow Mr. Jefferson, whom I've always adored.
   
   But Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Chernow, you are the best.

5 comments about Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China.

1. The story of this family is not usual. The grandmother was the mistress of a warlord, the mother was a communist revolutionist, and her daughter, the author of the book has escaped form China as a young girl. The thing I respect the most, that the author has only used personal experiences, and only written about things she has seen with her own eyes, or things which has happened with her family, and never used unchecked stories in her descriptions. She never tells a word in her story against the regime, even when she writes about the most shocking events in her family, but leave the reader to create his or her own opinion.



2. Nice review of History of China since world War II. Intersting way of telling story.



3. Before leaving for my 2004-05 sojourn in China, I naturally sought to acquaint myself with the culture in which I was about to live and work. Of the various books I read (which ranged from Chinese history to essays from American expats to descriptions of "the Asian mind" as applied to Western business people), it turned out that this book was BY FAR the most helpful in my day-to-day interactions -- both social and business -- with my Chinese associates.
   
   Spanning the early 20th Century when author Chang's grandmother was given as a concubine to a warlord general, through mid-century when Chang's parents joyously risked their lives in the Communist takeover, to 1978 when Chang herself left China, WILD SWANS paints a vivid picture of the China of today. I found that the information in this book, told in first-person story form, gave me far more understanding of my Mainland Chinese colleagues than any journalistic writings ever did, or could have.
   
   Since China is already a major force in western economies (especially America's), and will only become more central to the global economy, I consider it useful to share the observation of my personal experience: Understanding the RECENT LIFE EXPERIENCES of a nation's citizens is even important than understanding its customs. The good news is that history--told well--is a fascinating read! And Jung Chang's story is hard to top.
   
   Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)



4. A wonderful narrative of the pre-1949 and cultural revolution China told through three generations.
   
   Though Jung is anti-Mao, her book does a great job of providing a relatively unbiased personal account of this pivotal period in Chinese history.
   
   Jung's colorful family history gives her fodder for intriguing anecdotes and the reader a perspective into the life of a "well-to-do"/politically active Chinese family.



5. This book is amazingly moving and well written. Anyone who is even remotely curious about the life of ordinary Chinese women throughout the 20th century should read this work. It not only describes the stories of three generations of Chinese women, but it transports the reader to world that the author is describing. I definitely recommend this book. Often I will sell biographies after reading them, but this book is a keeper.

5 comments about Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!.

1. Informative when it came to reviewing his life and what happened during his governorship. Didn't expect a biography but that's basically what it is.
   There were opinions and ideas that I agree with, especially the idiot war on drugs.
   Not sure if the title of the book fits what was written. Disappointed that there were several typographical errors that distracted one.



2. Jesse, you're right about almost everything except immigration.
   Illegal immigration is destroying the U.S. and legal immigration must be lowered if not ended completely...especially from the 3rd world.
   Everything else I agreed with. You're almost up to par...keep researching the truth behind the invasion of our nation.



3. I love Jesse's non conventional views on politics. First book of his i read and was really impressed. Very Satisfied, i reccomend it to anyone!



4. I used to watch Jesse on Monday Night WWF Wrestling. He was co-announcer with Gorilla Monsoon. Jesse was the 'Bad Guy' advocate. He wore a beret, feathers and shades and I thought he was pretty cool. I've semi-followed him since. I thought it was great when he was elected governor. In all fairness i'll say that this book was very readable and well written and the guy has a lot of good ideas. HOWEVER........
   He brags about his part in Trade with China which has done nothing but hurt this country AS A WHOLE. Our industrial base is shipped to china,,,they become rich selling us their products, they buy steel, food, and fuel and all the prices skyrocket for Americans. Of course if you are a Pro Wrestler, Talk Show Host, or a Politician you don't have to worry about your job being shipped off to China.
   His part on Mohammed Ali was 'touching' but how can a Vietnam Vet respect the guy. He was a DRAFT DODGER. That is an insult to Vietnam Vets,,black and white. Lots of guys didn't want to go for lots of reasons.....BUT THEY WENT. If you respect Ali, why not respect all the guys that bailed out to Canada, and all the other ways to beat the draft. How about Jane Fonda??? I was expecting some big recitation on her,,,after all,,she believed in what she did...
   He has a picture of Che Guevara in his house,,,and he sounded like a kid that just saw Santa Clause when he met with Castro. Hey,,,those guys were the same Communists we were fighting all those years,,,along with China. They murdered millions and millions of people. They were bad guys then and they are bad guys now. You can tell alot about a person by the people that he respects. And it dosen't take a rocket scientist, Sherlock Holmes, or Fidel Castro to figure out that there was something funky about the JFK assasination. I think it hurt his feelings because RFK jr got to spend 4 hours with Castro and Jesse only got an hour.
   I thought Jesse was going to be like a BREATH OF FRESH AIR,,,but from the book there is just another self-serving politician wearing a tie-dyed t-shirt, a dew rag and feathers.
   Jesse is probably a good guy,,He'd be fun to party with,,,but after reading the book, I can't figure out why Jesse would want to have a Revolution,,, he has it made in the shade as it is...



5. First, let me be upfront with you- I am a wrestling fan. But not in the traditional sense, but rather, I love to watch what wrestling presents to its fans on TV, and then distill what is really happening behind the scenes. Fast forward to late May/early June, when Governor Ventura was making the talk show rounds, promoting this book. He landed on Hannity and Colmes on Fox, and had both of those two stammering for a response. He said some very controversial things; not just for the sensation factor, but because he believed these things to be true. Controversial topics like the Kennedy assassination, the Twin Towers disaster on 9/11. These comments intrigued me.
   Add to that, his startling rise to the top of Minnesota politics in the early 2000's-- well, to me that cinched it. I wanted to know more, and this book purported to give me the low down.
   
   About the book- if it were mine to publish, I would make sure that my editor cleaned up all of the typographical errors. There were many in the first third of the book, and it was kind of distracting. Aside from that, this book was a terrific read, told mostly as a first person recollection, with the narrative weaving between Gov. Ventura's personal history and his travel in his motor home to Baja. Along the story, his wife Terry adds some interesting observations from her perspective, and to me, that rounded out the narrative and indicated what a tight, great relationship the two share. This is a fun read, with interesting trivia and tidbits about third party politics that should make most Americans in the center realize that there is more going on in government that is reported in the news. Contrasted with Scott McClellan's book, this says many of the same things about the current political climate, but is a much more pleasurable read. (Sorry, I find Scott boring).
   
   Pick this one up- you won't regret it. You will learn a lot about third party politics, and a man who wouldn't fall in line with the political climate of today.
   
   The title says "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!," but I think Gov. Ventura is the one who has started the revolution already.