No comments about Meeting St. Paul Today: Understanding the Man, His Mission, and His Message.

5 comments about The History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin Classics).

1. Geoffrey's "The History of the Kings of Britain" is an engaging book about the King's who ruled over Britain and the great deeds they accomplished. I will concentrate particularly on the tales concerning Uther Pendragon and Arthur, since these are the characters that, in one way or another, helped form the image of Arthur we relate to in today's society.
   The book is, for the most part, event driven. Geoffrey describes one battle after the next after the next. It is almost certain that he will name each and every important character just as he will explain what happens to them at one point or another. He takes great care in describing how the battles take place. You can be sure he will never miss a name. Although these and other little details about battles and events are interseting, they do not make up for the lack of insight into the characters lives, especially Arthur's.
   Throughout the novel it is possible to get a feeling that Geoffrey continues to try and convince us that Arthur is the noblest and most generous of men. Arthur's actions, however, don't always seem to be so. Was his generosity true at heart, or was it a form of subtle bribery to keep his people's and allies favor? Why was Arthur so eager to enter battle, one after another, despite losing so many of his mens lives? Geoffrey does a good job of "telling" us of Arthur's greatness, but does a poor job of "showing" it.
   Despite these minor flaws, The History of the Kings of Britain is, if not historically acurate, at least entertaining. The constant battles, change of events and the casual appearance of supernatural powers gives the book that old, medieval feel. As for the text, it is not difficult to understand. Some effort is required to completly comprehend the events taking place, but it's nothing too time consuming. Personally, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about conquest, battles and anything relating to King Arthur.



2. In The History of the Kings of Britain, Geoffrey of Monmouth presents a detailed history of the Britons, beginning with Brutus in the twelfth century B.C. and ending with Saxon invasion in the seventh century A.D. Through the main characters of his book, Brutus, Belinus and Arthur, Geoffrey illustrates Britain's glorious past, recalling the events in chronological sequence and providing detailed descriptions of every event, especially those strategic to the building of Britain.
   While Geoffrey's source has yet to be proved, in his own introduction, Geoffrey claims to follow a reliable and ancient source given to him by a friend. The lack of evidence to support this claim, coupled with the supernatural elements incorporated into The History of the Kings of Britain, makes it difficult for the modern reader to place complete trust in the text as a historical account of Britain's history. The text is, however, rich in historical value as from his writing, one can deduce much about the political structure of Britain in that time frame, as well as the sociological makeup of the nation. The emphasis on politics, war and international relations, form a rough picture of Britain's power system, and the lengthy stories revolving around his characters give the reader insight on the lives of the British nobility.
   The History of the Kings of Britain deserves as much credit (if not more) for its literary value as its historical one. While Geoffrey considers himself a historian, his artistic talents, fluency and extensive use of vocabulary bring his accounts to life, turning the text into an enjoyable literary piece. Especially in key passages (in particular those concerning Arthur), Geoffrey makes very fine and detailed points, often narrating livelily.
   Lastly, Geoffrey writes "to be read by the solitary reader, not to be declaimed aloud...recital." While unable to resist the temptation to exalt certain characters he favor, Geoffrey is sensitive to leave much room for the reader's imagination. The experience of reading Geoffrey includes filling in the gaps in his stories with speculations of your own, giving every reader a personal "version" of the book.
   The History of the Kings of Britain is both an acclaimed literary piece and a famous historical account. The richness of its text lies in the careful description of the events, and the accessible style of writing. A marvelous attempt at introducing Britain's early history, the History of the Kings of Britain also provides one of the greatest accounts of the Arthurian legend.



3. I'm not sure why another reviewer asserts that "this is not a translation of the Latin HRB." Thorpe is translating the Latin Historia Regum Britanniae from the Cambridge MS. 1706 (see p. 34 of Thorpe's intro).
   
   Geoffrey composed the History of the Kings of Britain ca. 1136-38. It is a medieval chronicle, and it adheres to the standards of historiography of the time. While it does not provide the kind of coherent reading experience one might expect from a modern novel, it does offer early versions of what will become familiar tales. Most Arthurian courses (including mine) begin with excerpts from this book--which places the figure of Arthur and his prototypes somewhere in the twilight between Late Antique history and medieval romantic legend. Later vernacular versions of the HRB will be Layamon's Brut (in early Middle English) and Wace's Roman de Brut (in Anglo-Norman French).
   
   Geoffrey was probably Welsh, and some believe that he writes the HRB to please the Norman ascendancy as they have defeated the Anglo-Saxons (the old enemy of the Welsh) a few generations earlier.



4. I had to read some parts of this book for class and there were times when I was so confused by the writing that I had to reread parts three or four times. At other times I had no problem understanding what was going on. Overall, it is an enjoyable read if you are interested in how biographies were written in the middle ages and if you don't take every word seriously since the author wasn't very faithful to history.



5. With details of troop deployments and excerpts from speeches kings deliver to their men before battle, it becomes obvious it is unlikely that the details are historically accurate. Little time is spent discussing personal relationships; most of the stories revolve around battle. The book is easy reading for the most part. Some of the details offered before any given battle are hard to understand, but they rarely have a significant impact on the course of the plot. The price is more than fair, considering the volume of the book itself and the multitude of fantastic stories. Despite the fact that the work cannot be considered a true source of history, there is still a great deal of educational value.

5 comments about A Pirate Looks at Fifty.

1. This book was great, and I really needed it. Age never bothered me, but when I turned 50 it hit me like a ton of bricks. A friend gave me this book, and before I was 1/3 of the way through it, I realized 50 was OK. Buffet is a world class story teller, and whether he's writing fiction or non-fiction, his books are all must reads.



2. My husband brought with him on vacation. He loves Buffett's books & this was no exception. Very entertaining.



3. I haven't reached 50, yet. I hope that this book is a primer for when I get there. I hope that 50 is that great!



4. this book was interesting enough if you want to know more about fishing
   than Jimmy. Yes, I know he loves to fish, but I wanted a little more
   background.



5. It was a fairly good book but not as good as his other novels. Some of the stories were not that interesting and I'm not a big fan of journals. It did provide some insights into the pirate.

5 comments about Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross.

1. One needs a strong stomach to read this book. If anyone had any doubts that the Eastern Front in World War 2 was a meat grinder this book should remove those doubts. It is the story of an 18 year old conscript sent to the Eastern Front in 1943 as a machine gunner in a light infantry regiment. He soon realises that machine gunners had a short life in war and after having shown some skill with a captured Soviet sniper rifle returns to combat as a sniper.
   
   Learning quickly he managed to survive the retreat of the German forces but witnesses horrific events in the process which are described in detail. It is not easy reading, not only because of the descriptions but it is also written by the author in a very Germanic manner which emphasises the blood and toil. The author has a background in small arms and spent some time interviewing Joseph "Sepp" Allerberger for the book. He hints that Allerberger has had some problems in later life from the trauma he witnessed but there is little detail. Nor does he detail what Allerberger did after the war which would have rounded out the story.
   
   It is worth the read for a number of reasons; the description of the fighting from a different perspective, the insights into the type of sniping during World War 2 and the brutality of the Eastern Front.



2. I admit that I had relatively low expectations for Albrecht Wacker's SNIPER ON THE EASTERN FRONT. The rather lame title led me to believe that this was a modern-day "Landser-hilfe", that is to say, a badly written, clichéd, guts-without-glory war tale of the type that proliferated on post-WWII German bookshelves. Nothing could be further from the truth. SNIPER is probably the most engrossing book I've ever read about life and death on the Eastern Front, and one of the harshest looks at war ever printed.
   
   SNIPER is the story of "Sepp Allenberger", who served three years as a German Army sniper in Russia. The name is a nom de plume, since if Allenberger's identity were commonly known in Germany he would, given the antimilitaristic spirit of the modern-day Germans, suffer according social ostracism. (The unofficial compact w/WWII vets is, "You don't talk about your heroics, and we won't pillory you for fighting in Hitler's army.") Allenberger's military career began in wholly ordinary fashion; he was a drafted soldier from a small town who served in the infantry during the invasion of Russia. Not too long after he arrived there, however, Allenberger got his hands on a sniper rifle and demonstrated that he had a special talent for placing bullets precisely where he wanted them to go.
   
   Young Sepp (he really was just a kid) was a self-taught hunter of human beings, the Germans being laggard in their understanding of sniping as a tool of modern warfare. By the time he was finally sent to sniper school, he was already an expert at killing from a distance. The book is unclear just how many Russians fell victim to his weapon, but in one day alone he accounted for twenty-one Red Army soldiers, so a figure of two or three hundred is probably conservative. As a sniper, he was marked for a very horrible kind of death should he ever be captured, and only after discovering the fates of several of his comrades did he learn that self-effacement would make him live longer. Much of Wacker's prose (which is often stiff, as he's a technical writer by trade) is spent describing the life, philosophy and methodology of snipers, but overall, the book is simply one soldier's tale of combat in the East. And a terrifying one at that.
   
   There is probably no horror that can be committed by human beings that Allenberger didn't witness firsthand - the torture and mutilation of prisoners, the casual execution of innocent people out of sheer bloody-mindedness, the slow death of comrades from festering wounds, and in two of the books' most appalling sequences, organized cannibalism and a gang-rape/murder which was almost impossible to finish reading. Many people "get" that the Russo-German War (1941 - 1945) was an appalling massacre from start to finish, resulting in more than 32 million dead, but it is one thing to see the figures and another to be dragged through the bloody muck of the holocaust by one who was there. The suffering of the ordinary front-line soldier, who was underfed, poorly clothed, covered with lice, and perpetually exhausted even during "quiet" spells on the front, is hard to concieve, but Wacker, whose pen gets sharper as he warms to his subject, made me concieve it.
   
   SNIPER is a terse and engrossing soldier's story which I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an honest understanding of the Eastern Front. But it is not for the faint of heart.



3. I enjoyed the book. I dont like reading books that are written in the 3rd party, so this read cleanly and you felt as though you where there. The descriptions of his actions where very detailed. Some of the horrors of war where mentioned in the book, such as the treatment of civilians during occupied russian territory, and I believe these stories must be told. For anyone who is interested in reading a good 1st person account of their own experiences, you will enjoy it.



4. This book shows how brutal the Eastern front really was. This book at times is very gruesome but very necessary to show how this war was fought and how brutal war can be. Definitely worth while to pick up.



5. This book is so well written that I did not want to put it down, a comment at least one and probably many other readers have posted here. It has a stilted, blunt, visceral style that conveys the human condition much more effectively, realistically, and believably than Faulkner or Hemingway or any famous writer I can think of. That is why I am disappointed at the questionable veracity of the story. First, the subject's true identity is kept hidden. At this point in time it is probably not important to do such a thing and so I wonder what the real reason might be. Is there, or was there, any Sepp Allerberger at all? Second, you know very well that he could not have remembered the hundreds of intricate details that are described in the story. This must have been made up in an ad hoc fashion to spice up the account, perhaps by the writer, whose background seems nebulous despite some other titles credited to his name, which is misspelled on a title page.
   I do recommend this book but suggest that it might well be a fiction that could have been truth. The Russians were certainly as bestial as they are portrayed.

5 comments about What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self.

1. Loved reading these letters and learning about the lives of those who wrote them! Excellent and inspiring!



2. We should all take the time to reflect on what we have learned through the years. And reminisce about how naive we once were. It took courage for these women to share their most vulnerable moment and I thank them for that. Their stories have helped me in accept the beauty of maturing and accepting who I have become. I have given this book as a gift to several girlfriends for their birthdays. I just wish I would have had the foresight to read a book like this when I was younger...but then again, I may not have really understood it.



3. I read this book and it was comforting and validating for me to know that so many famous women have experienced many of life's struggles that us everyday women are challenged with. Many of the letters give important insights and inspirational advice in an honest, approachable and down-to-earth manner. I will definately refer back to many of the letters in this book that struck a cord with me. Great advice for all women of all ages, in all walk of life.



4. some authors included in this work give you enough background to understand why they advise their younger selves the way they do. Other authors are just vague. It's nice to compare their experiences and roads to self-development to mine and for that reason it's a good read to keep on the shelf; besides the awesome women included in it.



5. Excellent book to help guide women that it's okay to make mistakes in your younger years.

5 comments about The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism.

1. Author Ross King's "The Judgment of Paris" is a painstaking look at an interesting period in French history when a new political system was born and, more interestingly for the rest of the world, a new approach to art was set before a skeptical public. Both events were accompanied by enormous turbulence and resistance, but both have endured to this day.
   The book's focus on two painters of the time--Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet--to chart the progress of change is arguably a little exclusive, but author Ross effectively argues that they are good choices as representatives of the spectrum of extremes present in the decade covered by the story. What was particularly interesting to me about this book were the details of the annual or biennial salons that were make or break for art and artists in the 19th Century. Ross has amassed some amazing details that clarify that process, but also make clear why impressionism finally flowered and flourished in such an important way.
   "The Judgment of Paris" takes a bit of slogging through because of the denseness of its details, however the author's skill in pushing his story along makes for very interesting reading for anyone interested in art or 19th Century European history.



2. My husband read this, and passed it along. While I finished the book, I found slightly infuriating: Chapters are short, occasionally the book reads like a guest list at a fancy party and nothing is treated in any kind of depth. To top it al off, there are too few reproductions of the art discussed. In all, a decent view into the rise of Impressionism but, not one with great soul.



3. I loved this book. I just got back from Paris and I am an artist so I felt right at home reading about the art world in Paris over 100 years ago. Nothing changes much in the art world. In 2008 there are exhibitions with so many restrictions and rules, the art is lost in the Museum/gallery politics. The book reads like fiction, it is a bit over researched, but I do feel completley at home visiting the M room. Good job!



4. King chronicles the careers of two French artists, Ernest Meissonier and Edouard Manet, during the late 19th century. Meissonier, the darling of the Paris Salon (the organization that could make or break an artist's career during that time), was the most famous and highest paid painter of the day. In contrast, Manet, heralded as the father of the Impressionist movement, struggled with constant rejection by the Salon as well as the critics. Manet's popularity came later in his career and following his death while Meissonier's work has since faded into obscurity. King gives a fascinating look at the politics and history of the turbulent time period. My only criticism: while the book provided some illustrations of the paintings, there could have been more. King went into great detail about the minute details of many paintings, which was wonderful when the painting was illustrated in the book, but a bit frustrating when it was not. All in all, a good read.



5. King uses the lives of two painters and a wonderfully detailed historical context to present the roots and further development of Impressionism. I hate to use the term for such a densely written book, but it is an easy read. In addition, it is a useful reference book. I have dipped back into it several times to refresh my understanding of certain artists.

5 comments about Theodore Rex (Modern Library Paperbacks).

1. Theordore Rex is terrific history that reads nearly like a novel. It covers a seminal period of American history, as well as giving great insight into the temper of the times through a wealth of detail.
   
   Roosevelt the man is revealed to be a highly complex character with decidely Brahmin attributes, larger-than-life, and at the core, a decent human being.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. I started this book right after reading "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt" by Morris. While I was riveted to the first book, this one took a little while longer to read. So much detail was given to the politics of his office and the bills that were introduced, that it made for somewhat dry reading in parts. Very informative, but not as thrilling as his life prior to his presidency.



3. This is the second in a projected three volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt, and is just a delight to read. I felt while reading the book that I was inhabiting the White House in the first years of the 20th century.
   
   I agree with several reviewers here who said that the first volume, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (Modern Library Paperbacks)was superior, but again, that was terrific, and it is not always easy to follow great success. (Ask William Taft, TR's successor)
   
   And sometimes the journey beats the destination. In the first book Roosevelt leads several different lives, and fulfills different roles as son, author, state legislator, husband, father, widower, hunter, NYC Police Commissoner, NY Governor, and then Vice President. It was hard not to feel cooped up in the White House after the rich, varied life he had led before. It is no wonder he didn't pursue a third term in 1908, despite every indication he would have won.
   
   This second volume does not address TR's private life as thoroughly as did the first. Morris may have felt he had already covered it in the first book, or more likely, that doing them justice would have required another book. TR's second wife, Edith, was his first love. They were school age sweethearts, broke up, after which TR abruptly married a younger woman, who bore him a daughter before dying in a flu epidemic. TR subsequently married Edith. Methinks there is a story there, but it is not dealt with in this book.
   
   Instead Morris focuses almost entirely on TR's public life and policies, which is certainly an understandable decision. The battles with the corporations on creating anti-trust legislation, mediating to bring a cease-fire in the Russo Japanese War and setting aside thousands of acres for national parks are all dealt with in detail here.
   
   The great thing about TR was that in addition to his raw energy, he was also a first rate intellect. He is a biographer's dream and Morris has done a terrific job with these two volumes. While he clearly admires his subject, he also shows him warts and all, when his use of the bully pulpit sometimes turned into bullying behavior.
   
   I highly recommend both this book and its predecessor.



4. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it difficult to put down and on the rare occasions I did, I could not wait to pick it up again. Morris managed to bring back to life a pivotal period in the history of the United States through the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. While reading, I always felt as though I was standing by T.R.'s side simply watching the events unfold. Morris' storytelling style made for easy reading.
   
   I felt the highlights were in his handling of the Anthracite Coal Strike, the Northern Securities scandal, and the origins of the "Teddy" Bear, among others. However, the opening sequence detailing his journey to Buffalo, NY following the assassination of McKinley provides a fantastic jumping off point for the fast-paced presidency he was about to take on.
   
   Reading a book like this really makes a person long for the honest, hard-working political figures of the past. It makes modern-day politics look even more corrupt by comparison.
   
   Bottom line: do yourself a favor and read this book.



5. Edmund Morris's second book in a projected three volume set about Theodore Roosevelt is an excellent tome, meticulously researched and extremely well-written. The years are pivotal in American history, from 1901 through 1909 as America becomes more involved in world affairs. Roosevelt was a larger than life character in his interests and ambitions. Morris makes superb use of TR's papers and other documents to render an accurate portrait of one of America's most beloved and energetic presidents. He makes ample use of the archives of Roosevelts observes like John Hay, William Howard Taft and others. Roosevelt was the youngest president and the books bursts with his mesmerizing accomplishments such as Western conservation, author, monopoly busting, Republican advances in race and labor as well as his quiet sponsorship of a revolution in Colombian province called Panama - where he later built that little canal. This was in an era when "Progressive" meant forward thinking rather than the socialist-left wing concept of today. He mediated war between Russia and Japan, bringing the office of the Presidency into international affairs.

5 comments about The Frontiersmen: A Narrative.

1. I first became acquainted with Mr. Eckert's books a few years ago while shopping for a gift for my son-in-law who loves local history and someone recommended one of his books. I took it home and while wrapping it, read a page. I was hooked, I went out and bought one for myself. We live in an area rich in history and his books cover our area extensively. I only wish all the history classes I took in high school and college had been this interesting. Our whole family now enjoys Mr. Eckert's books.



2. I was assigned to read this book for my 10th grade American History summer reading. I loved to read as a teen. I loved history -- I went on to get my degree in it. This book threatened to change all of that.
   A ponderous piece of agonizing minutiae, this book brought me to the breaking point. I read it -- the whole thing. As a fifteen year old. I think it actually made me cry, I hated it so much. It's well researched, but seemed almost masturbatory in its envisioning of the motivations of frontiersmen. And excruciatingly long. Some people obviously enjoy this book. To each their own. But for the rest of you, it is okay to hate it. Really. You know you want to.



3. Eckert has written a truly engrossing book on an amazing figure in American history. Simon Kenton, like Daniel Boone had the lust to wonder the woods for days and both had a immense memory for the scope of the land he wondered. The narrative writing is excellent. It puts you back in the 18th century when America was truly wild. It was a harsh land when one false step led to an early death, often times gruesome. The Shawnees were none to compliant to give up their lands and sold it at a high cost of human life. Tecumseh also emerges here, also one of the greatest figures in history. A Sorrow in Our Heart, which is about Tecumseh is also a must read. In the Frontiersman, the Ohio River flowed blood red with hatred for intruders. There are captivating stories here of the many clashes that took place between whites and indians. It was a time period of two cultures clashing, one wanting to hold on to a way of life etched into the land through balance and harmony, aganst a culture that produced men who were determined to see new vistas and experience the thrill of blazing a trail that many would soon follow. But it was this migration which ruined the very thing they loved most, the feeling of true wilderness. This book captures it all. A must read for those who find history a fascinating subject.



4. Wow, what an interesting, exciting, factual book! Just as engaging and excitingly written as any Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel, except very factual. Based on tens of thousands of pages of interview notes taken from those who lived during this period of history. You will learn a lot of American history and enjoy it, to boot, if you read this book! Don't miss this one!



5. While looking to see if one of my favorite historical authors (James Alexander Thom) had a new novel out, I came across the books of Allan W. Eckert on of those "If You Like This Book, You'll Like This Too" lists. I had never heard of Eckert before, but based upon the GREAT reviews of this book I decided to give it a try. What a suprise! All of the positive reviews aren't lying. I can't put the book down! It just pulls you in until you feel like you're roaming the Ohio Valley with Kenton and all the other brave folks (White and Indian). The 588 LARGE pages make it extra special for folks like myself who fly through books quickly. I would highly recommend the book and can't wait to start another one by him.
   
   P.S. The books by James Alexander Thom are equally well written for those who are looking for a simular type author.

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

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



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



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



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



5. I was gravely disappointed by this book. What could have been a unique, enlightening, and fascinating piece of work was simplified beyond belief, full of opinions instead of research, and really did far less justice to the individuals profiled than the author appeared to believe.
   
   And...ok, this is an extreme pet peeve of mine...the editing was terrible. What it is lately about editing that has become so difficult? And we're not even talking about true editing, just simply making certain there are no typos and that form and grammar are correct. This was so poorly done it was painful to read.
   
   I had looked forward to this book for some time, so I was very disappointed when I got through the first ten or so pages and realized it really wasn't for the thoughtful reader who wants solid research behind a story. No, it was a quick read for a non-critical thinker that likes to be hand-fed polemics.
   
   Sorry.

5 comments about Jack: Straight from the Gut.

1. Jack Welch's life has been about excellence, winning....and having fun. His autobiography, "Jack: Straight From the Gut", tells how he rose from small town roots to become CEO of General Electric, arguably the greatest corporation in America and the world at the end of the 20th Century. During his life's journey, Welch accomplished more than most ever dream of. He earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering by the age of 25. During his 20 year tenure as head of GE, company revenues soared from $27 billion in 1981 to $130 billion in 2001. GE's annual growth rate averaged 18.9 percent during this period, and its stock rose a staggering 3,098 percent.
   
   Without any formal management training, Welch worked his way up from "process development specialist" in 1960 to CEO of GE in 1981. His management secret? Welch attributes his success in life and business to living the lessons his mother drilled into him during his youth. She taught him early that he had better face the facts of any tough situation if he was to succeed: "Don't kid yourself. It is the way it is." she would tell him repeatedly. "Grace Welch taught me the value of competition, just as she taught me the pleasure of winning and the need to take defeat in stride,"... "If I have any leadership style, a way of getting the best out of people, I owe it to her," Welch writes.
   
   And getting the best out of people, himself included, is what Jack Welch did best. He was such a great manager largely because he focused on bringing out the best in his employees, making GE into a "people factory". He knew that a business cannot afford to be soft-hearted when it comes to grading and rewarding, or punishing, employees based upon their performance. He knew that the value of a business is primarily the talents, skills, and knowledge of its people. Under Jack Welch, GE changed from bureaucracy to meritocracy - focused on grading its people, rewarding the best, encouraging the middle, and getting rid of the rest. As he writes: "Performance management has been part of everyone's life from the first grade. It starts in grade school with advanced placement. Differentiation applies to football teams, cheerleading squads, and honor societies....There's differentiation for all of us in our first 20 years. Why should it stop in the workplace, where most of our waking hours are spent?"
   
   Welch characterized the traits that made him successful and that he sought in others as "The Four E's": 1. Energy of personality, 2. the Enthusiasm to communicate that energy to others, 3. the Edge to make tough decisions, and 4. the Execution to see those decisions implemented. The Four E's were connected by the "Big P: Passion". Welch's integrity to this vision of employee excellence is seen repeatedly in the book when he promotes unrecognized and unrewarded employees because he saw the four E's and big P in them, where others did not. Most of these individuals went on to become successful upper managers at GE and even CEO's of other large corporations.
   
   Whether being blasted in the media as "Neutron Jack" for laying off thousands of employees while building a state-of-the-art management training center, or executing the buyout of other companies, such as RCA with its NBC network, or implementing a system to share best practices among GE companies world-wide (a concept he termed "boundaryless"), Welch dove into each project with seemingly inexhaustible passion and zeal. He brought the same dedication to implementing each company-wide program he initiated: Globalization, Growing Services, Six Sigma, and E-business. Welch loves what he created at GE. The company definitely became his baby - and he was the heart and soul of GE during his time as CEO.
   
   As an autobiography, Jack Straight from the Gut, is a pleasure to read. Welch's A-type, straight talking personality comes through, with the help of co-author John A. Byrne, in a natural, down-to-earth writing style. Jack Welch's rise from small town Irish immigrant roots to chairman of General Electric is one of the most engaging and inspiring business tales you will ever read. Welch is a late Twentieth Century version of Andrew Carnegie: rising to fame and fortune from a humble background. His life is a confirmation of the American virtues of free enterprise system, with its focus on the values of hard work, integrity, ambition and excellence. Jack Welch is a real life Ayn Rand business hero. Like Howard Roark or John Galt, he struggled across his career, and despite numerous set-backs, he ultimately rose up to create a life of great achievements. Welch sought excellence in himself and those around him. As a result, he drove GE, its thousands of employees, and the American economy to unprecedented levels of productivity and prosperity.



2. Jack Who? People who are in college at this moment might not know the name. Does that really matter? No!
   
   This book is about Jack Welch and his amazing story up the ladder of corporate America. It teaches us about guts, hard work and true dedication. It actually reads like 'Once upon a time in America' featuring Robert de Niro.
   
   As Jack begins his journey with childhood memories, it shows how anyone can achieve great things and have an amazing career. It features hard work and some luck, but most of all the book shows there are no shortcuts. As so many books tell you how you can get that promotion as fast as possible, this story shows no 'dot-com millionaire' or 'america's next top model'. These are all longshots.
   
   If you value a career and are ready to learn from someone who's been there and done that, grab your copy. When you want to succeed in business, it'll take more than just a fancy website... it'll take a lot of guts.



3. It's very interesting, entertaining and fun to read the autobiography of Jack Welch, the CEO icon of the 80's and 90's. He's very direct, honest and detailed on his professional life while touching sometimes on his personal one. He explains how hard work, wit and a mix of luck made him the man he has become. It's full of General Electric episodes - the good and the bad - which makes it a very compelling read. I highly recommend it.



4. I've met Jack Welch in Pasadena few weeks after the book came out. Jack Welch just confirmed his keen intellect," tough" guy fame but he discussed with passion about Six Sigma, one of initiatives he championed together with globalization and e-business. This book though is not the textbook on Welch Style of Management but is a good inside in some of his thinking and approaches. This book is for those who want to listen to what he wants to say.



5. What makes an 'A performer'? Jack's years at GE have seen their share of successes, narrow escapes, and missteps along the way - and it is Jack's treatment of the former that makes this an incredibly insightful book to read. You cannot be right all the time, nor should you expect your peers or subordinates to be, but at the same time, it is your role as a leader to identify and cultivate the best performers continuously. Yes, that means letting go of your bottom 10%, every year.
   
   Aside from being an inspiring and educational read, the book also offers a rare glimpse of the corporate growth strategies and acquisitions made by GE - a side of corporate America that is rarely covered and poorly understood outside of the top financial circles.
   
   Highly recommended for any entrepreneur and business owner out there. (Yes, the lessons apply outside of multi-billion dollar corporate context.)