5 comments about Grant: A Biography.

1. This is one seriously irritating book. There may be relatively few factual errors (at least, compared to Geoffrey Perret's work on Grant, a masterpiece of unintentional humor,) but McFeely's work is riddled with what I can only believe are deliberately insulting mischaracterizations and misrepresentations, tiresomely pretentious writing, and amateur psychoanalyzing of the most obnoxious sort. McFeely is particularly fond of quoting the words of Grant or his wife on some matter or another, and then proclaiming that--no matter how clear their meaning may have been to us poor dumb non-historians--what they were REALLY saying and thinking was something else altogether. If there is anything I can't abide, it's a biographer who persists in reading a subject's mind and putting words into his or her mouth and thoughts into his or her head that were never said and never thought. McFeely not only obviously believes he is much smarter than Grant (hah!) but more percipient than his readership, as well.

   If this book is worthy of a Pulitzer, then I trust my next grocery shopping list will earn me a Nobel Prize for Literature.




2. McFeely won the Pulitzer Prize for this book in 1982, but the conclusions he reaches about his subject have drawn fire ever since. Those sympathetic to Grant correctly point to errant assumptions and mistakes in character analysis. Most glaring is McFeely's insistence that Grant gloried in carnage, was insensitive to death and suffering, and was an incompetent chief executive.

   Actually Grant was one of the most exquisitiely sensitive men ever born and was nothing like the 'butcher' that McFeely describes. However, the research in the book is quite good and there are very few factual errors to be found, though his chapters on the civil war are relatuvely weak. This contrasts markedly to Geoffrey Perret's 1997 Grant biography, which contained inaccuracies on nearly every page. McFeely is most solid in the period of Reconstruction, though he is usually overly prone to criticize the hapless Grant. Throughout many chapters, it seems the General can't buy a break.

   McFeely's greatest admiration for Grant is contained in two areas of his life: his family relationships, specifically his loving marriage to wife Julia, and his abilities as a writer. McFeely leaves no doubt that he regards Grant's 1885 Memoirs as one of the great books ever written and the best part of this biography is in explaining the processes Grant used to produce such a masterpiece, while dying of throat cancer.

   With its flaws and uneven treatment of Grant, McFeely's book cannot be considered definitive, but it is still the only complete biography of Grant written in the past 30 years. Perret's limping entry isn't even in the same league as this book, in accuracy, writing or research. To sum up: overly critical, but a must read for Civil War buffs.




3. The book covers the important parts of Grant's life. The book has good research on Grant's youth.



4. Any good biographer has to have, if not sympathy, at least some understanding of his or her subject. Unfortunately, although this book is well researched, you get the uneasy feeling that Mr. McFeely is examining Ulysses Grant like a bug under a microscope. This is the classic example of an academic who lacks understanding of real life and as a result cannot grasp the dynamics of a man of action, as Ulysses Grant certainly was.
   
   Mr. McFeely also unquestioningly adopts the prejudices of prior historians without thinking for himself. As a result, an historian who DID think for himself, Frank Scaturro in President Grant Reconsidered, has rendered Mr. McFeely's book obsolete. Every biography since Mr. Scaturro has reviewed the Grant Administration with a fresh and generally favorable eye. As the last civil rights President before Harry Truman, Grant certainly deserves that revised opinion.
   
   Mr. McFeely's book is no longer worth reading, if it ever was.



5. I am currently reading a biography of every President in order. I must say that none of the preceding Presidents (even Lincoln) seem to be as difficult to pin down as Grant as to their "definitive" biography. In addition to McFeely's Pulitzer prize winning effort is Geoffrey Perret's offering, which seems to be universally derided as a scholarly farce, Jean Edward Smith's biography of Grant is clearly meant for a more popular readership (indeed Smith's commitment to scholarly research is somewhat dubious himself given he was able to produce a 1,000 page biography of FDR in less than 5 years after writing his Grant bio), and finally Brooks Simpson's projected two volume biography which when complete will certainly be the most comprehensive modern effort. McFeely's biography was the Pulitzer prize winner and that ultimately swayed me in favor of it, although I was a bit concerned about some of the poor reviews it received.
   
   I will state from the outset that I think most of the criticism of McFeely's biography I have read in other reviews is either unwarranted or overstressed. This is a straightforward "old school" biography that is directed by the research and not by some new spin that the author believes will help sell the book. McFeely won the Pulitzer Prize for this work and rightfully so. This is a comprehensive and balanced biography of Grant that is a highly enjoyable read on top of that.
   
   I'm not sure what the negative reviewers expectations were before reading this book. Obviously most feel that Grant is somehow misrepresented by McFeely, however I definitely did not reach that conclusion. I believe this is the best comprehensive one volume biography of Grant available based on extensive research and solid writing.

4 comments about The Autobiography of Emperor Haile Sellassie I: King of Kings of All Ethiopia and Lord of All Lords (My Life and Ethiopia's Progress) (My Life and Ethiopia's ... Progress) (My Life and Ethiopia's Progress).

1. The whole work of the book is very inspirational, historically it is educational and legendary. The new generations of Ethiopian or the Eritrean will learn from it what they have not been told correctly. History never chnages. The book has it all. It is compiled very well, charismatic and the writer is to be admired for his great work. Everyone must read this book for self uplifting or for your edification.



2. This is a book that should be read and studied by all believers in God. It should also be studied by people who are interested in a career in political science or people who eventually want to become a prime minister. And, it should be read by national leaders who still believe that Plato's 'philosopher king' can lead the people of a democratic nation. As President Putin of Russia continues to say correctly that there are many different forms of democracy that will work properly.
   
   This book showed me that Germany's Hitler and Italy's Mussolini were very ugly and inhumane. It also shows that religions can be ungodly when they force a religion onto free people. It shows the origin of today's terrorism.
   
   Emperor Haile Sellassie I was a great developer of the human spirit and Nature's resources. Everything he did was for the benefit of the people of Ethiopia and those nations that joined the League of Nations. His work to unify science and theology was new and should become a 'development' model for all nations today.



3. It is of the highest inspiration for I to read the words of His Majesty. Such humbleness, reverence, and clarity in His pure personality. Cast aside all doctrines and dogmas they tell you about HIM and Empress Menen. Find out for yourself, straight up from the source. I and I father is truly devoted to the Most High, to his people, yes I, to his children of all generations. Through trial and tribulation. But don't take it from another. Hear for your self Idren.
   His Words Live
   His Spirit Lives
   Emperor Sellassie I Lives to Infinity



4. It is a must read for any person seeking the truth and for those of us who are ORthodox Christians.

5 comments about Aimée & Jaguar: A Love Story, Berlin 1943.

1. I am responding to previous reviews - I do not think this book is about romance, and I did not feel lack of personal "data".
   This is an incredible documentry book that document a time (1943) and place (Berlin). Yes, it is about love story. More so, it is about the human tendency to except the current situation and ignore warning bells, the systematic Nazi optression etc.



2. I liked this book. Some of the pictures, I really wish I could blow up and have as prints in my room. The story gives a lot of insight into that era. The Amazon criticism is that the author really doesn't focus much on the lesbian aspect, instead focusing more on the era, the World War II Jewish persecution, etc. Given the setting and the individuals involved, this seems understandable. I really, really enjoyed this story. The problems and personality flaws of the women aren't glossed over either which is nice.



3. It is a great book about a love affair during the war. I love how it tells about how the continued writing to eachother even when apart. This story will make you cry but is very beautiful in many ways.



4. I enjoyed the film version of "Aimee & Jaguar", but I think the book tells a much deeper story. We get to know the characters on a more profound level: I was especially charmed by the poems both women wrote, especially Jaguar's rhymed comments on her everyday life experiences. The book provides astonishing details about life for Jews who went "underground" in Berlin; somehow, the picture of the slow tightening of the Nazi noose was clearer to me from this book than from the many other works I've read on the period. And Aimee's fate after the war was unexpected--messy, frustrating, and human. A more timid author might have left some of this information out.
   
   I do have a few complaints about Fischer's approach to writing history: I agree with some other reviewers that the story tended to get muddled in the constant mention of unimportant names and dates, and it's difficult to keep track of the minor characters. An index would have helped with this. The author included loads of love letters, which get a little repetitive. I also would have liked to see more photos of Aimee & Jaguar's friends, rather than so many pictures of just the two of them.
   
   I don't have the knowledge to assess how successful Fischer was at capturing lesbian feelings: the love between the characters seemed believable to me, and there was one fairly explicit scene that many historians would not have dared to write, but which I think added to the emotion of the story. I did think it was odd--bordering on irresponsible, for a historian--that Fischer stated in an epilogue that she thought Jaguar would have left Aimee if they had been together longer. This is pure speculation. Though I appreciated Fischer's honest confession of her feelings about Aimee, it might have been fairer to the reader if the author had put this at the beginning of the book. After reading the epilogue, I remembered a number of incidents in the story that portrayed Aimee in a negative light, and I couldn't help but think that Fischer's personal attitude may have colored her telling of those events. For example, when Jaguar is sent to a concentration camp, Aimee tries unsuccessfully to demand her release from the camp authorities. This action is described as "irrational", and one onlooker comments that it may have even harmed Jaguar. But no evidence for this is given--letters from Jaguar after Aimee's visit say nothing about it. Aimee's attempt might just as easily have been described as a sign of her great love for Jaguar, or of her bravery in confronting the Nazis, but instead, a picture is painted of a woman behaving irrationally, a standard sexist stereotype.
   
   I can understand why Fischer was offended that Aimee appropriated Jaguar's Jewish background after the war. I think some of Aimee's attitude might have come from the role of German women in the time that she lived: she would have expected to take on some of the attributes and beliefs of her "husband." Plus, she was disgusted at the system that had robbed her of her lover. And her action can also be looked at in a positive way: one of Aimee's sons became very interested in the Hebrew language, and ended up emigrating to Israel. Is that a bad thing? I thought it was strange that Fischer gave so little credit to Aimee for the risks she took to try and help Jaguar and a number of other Jews. It is true that Aimee was not always on "the good side", and Fischer did some hard work investigating her background. But shouldn't people who learn and change be given some respect?
   
   Fischer closes the book with a description of her own husband's work, which will probably make every reader feel immensely guilty. Again, not something most historians would do, but it is another sign of Fischer's brave, though not always successful, attempts to get to the heart of humanity's struggle with its own dark side.



5. This book is the very first book to ever make me cry, and I'm one of those people who've read all types of genres. It was captivating and compelling. Like many, I saw the movie first, but when I saw it was a true story, I simply had to have the book as well. I am glad I did. The book provided the background and meaning that the movie left out. Because of the book, I will probably have to rewatch the movie again.
   
   The courage, bravery, and love shown in this novel is beyond compare. It's a read worth reading slowly.

5 comments about Hitler: A Study in Tyranny.

1. Allan Bullock's biography is comprehensive. Any history book exceeding 800 pages falls into this category. However, do not let the scale of the book deter the reader from gaining an insight to this mad and evil man.
   
   In terms of the history of the 20th Century, Hitler is certainly one of that century's more influential characters. From a political perspective, the "pantheon" of significance would include Lenin, Stalin, Mao and Hitler. Note that no democrats get a look in here. Perhaps the nearest in terms of influence would be Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Thus, no history of the last century can be complete without a thorough understanding of Adolf Hitler and his vast and demonic influence.
   
   Bullock's work covers Hitler's life in its entirety. We begin with his birth in 1889 in Austria near the Bavarian border, through his years as a rabble rouser and gutter politician and finish with his last days in the bunker in Berlin with the Red Army literally only a few hundred metres from capturing him. Yet through all this period, Hitler's core personality is unchanged. He has a seemingly innate hatred for Jews combined with a belief that Germany was conspired against from the inside when the First World War armistice was signed. These views lead Hitler to indulge his fantasies that Germany will rise again and that only he is able to lead the nation. The end, of course, is the absolute defeat of Germany such that a platform is provided for its splitting in two during the cold war. It also provides the scope for Stalin to impose his wishes upon Eastern Europe. This piece of modern day imperialism only ended in the final years of last century.
   
   To complete a reading Allan Bullock's work is not an easy task. It is truly an immense and impressive work. Yet, if the reader perseveres with the task, the reward is that one is left with a clearer picture of the mad man who legacy was death and destruction. It is the diary of madness succeeding over reason for too long. The consequences of this "success" were truly horrible.



2. I've never been drawn to the study of Nazi Germany as so many have, nor am I "fascinated" by the sweaty little man with bad hair and daddy issues who brought about Europe's most costly war. I've read a few books about Hitler, mainly because I was directed to do so in various classes, and of them all, this was the best. In dubbing Hitler : A Study in Tyranny the best, I mean it presented copious information (nicely backed up with an immense quantity of footnotes) and never strayed into validating the myths about its subject. One can read this abridgment of Bullock's work (I have never seen the long version) and come away reasonably well-informed about Hitler, his rise to power, the Second World War, and the Nazi regime with its various social misfits, failures, and assorted lovers-of-self. Bullock is an admirable sort of historian, one who does not inject his own personality far into his material and does not speculate so much as simply present facts through as little cultural filter as possible.
   
   In my views, as the title of this review declared, Adolph Hitler is given more credit than he deserves. Yes, he is at times too readily written off as "a nut" and left at that, but just as often (and increasingly in this century) he is unfairly praised and credited with accomplishments that were not fully his own. He is usually described as, "Boy, he was evil, but he was a genius." Was he? Was he truly?
   
   Not only was the hard-working German nation by 1933 on the path to an economic recovery of amazing scope, but the unrest of the 1920's with its inter-party feuding and Communist threat, was largely dissipating. Hitler is falsely believed in the popular view to have single-handedly set his nation on a path out of depression and into prosperity, while simultaneously quelling unrest and restoring order. In fact he had little to do with either, he came along at a time most propitious for him to make claims of responsibility for these things, but he did not author his (adopted) country's recovery.
   
   As for Hitler being " a genius" let's consider for a moment the deeds of this "strategic mastermind." Rather than containing his aggressions, Hitler took on virtually ALL the powers of Europe and eventually--in a fit of bad judgment so profound it should dispel his mystique right there-embroiled his nation in war with the United States, against whom the American people were not at war and were unlikely to be after the Pearl Harbor attack. Hitler allowed the British army to escape at Dunkirk, he invaded his own ally, the Soviet Union, he so centralized power within the military that on D-Day his generals were paralyzed without authority to act without the go-ahead from Berlin, and he set into motion such cruelties against his own citizens and the populations of those lands he occupied that any widespread support he might have gained was almost entirely lost to his armies.
   
   The man was not a military mastermind, not a political genius, and beyond any doubt not the savior of Germany, which he all-but destroyed in his less than dozen years as absolute ruler. Hitler was the architect and inspiration for mass murder and more human misery and suffering than any one person the world had witnessed up to that time. Alan Bullock is to be praised for remembering all of these things and tossing the Hitler myth out of the window. I wish more people would read books like these before they go on perpetuating misinformation about an evil man they do not know as much about as they likely think they do.



3. Alan Bullock is one of the foremost biographers of Hitler. Unfortunately, when he wrote Study in Tyranny, few documents were available for him to write a complete work like his Hitler and Stalin. Bullock concentrates more on Germany as a whole instead of Hitler. Unlike his dual biography, Study in Tyranny has a tendency to bash his subject unnecessarily. Given the date of publication, Study in Tyranny is a good survey of Hitler and Germany before and during World War Two. Unfortunately compared to Joachim Fest's Hitler or Bullock's Hitler and Stalin, Study in Tyranny is lackluster but not due to Bullock's fault.



4. This was the best profile of Hitler when I read it forty years ago (it's only rival was Shirer's `Rise and Fall of the Third Reich'). Bullock skillfully explores Hitler's public and personal world in three sections (Party Leader, Chancellor, and War-Lord). Some of his surprising habits (non-smoker, vegetarian, and teetotaler) stand in contrast with the criminal war he launched and the innocents he killed.
   
   `A Study in Tyranny' has since been supplemented with accounts by Fest, Kershaw, and several others, but Bullock remains well worth reading for those serious in the subject.



5. I enjoyed the book very much as an amateur historian and read it often, so much so that my original copy fell apart over the years.
   
   The book itself compares well with Shirer's 'Rise and Fall of The Third Reich', which I personally consider to be 'the bible' as regards the Nazi era.
   
   The abridged version of 'Study in Tyranny' I found a bit dis-appointing after having the original, full text edition as the bench mark. I found there was, naturally, some parts of the text absent and that was dis-concertiong plus the larger print of the new version was a shade off-putting.
   
   My paperback edition of Shirer's work is full text, with naturally smaller print, but it is the full magnum opus, which is also an overweight Irish cat.
   
   I fully commend 'Hitler, A Study in Tyranny' to the student of The Third Reich but I would re-commend you purchase the full length version to gain the best from this work.

5 comments about Harrison (Editors of Rolling Stone).

1. For the recent Birthday of Georgie Boy, I can review this item as the best way of remembering one of the best humans that have ever walked this earth.



2. Having been a "LLOG" (Lifetime Lover of George)I have read plenty about him. In general, his music is the best way to get to know George: it is unique, multi-textured, honest, witty, loving and spiritual. However, for reasons I certainly can't fathom, generally his post-Beatles work (with about two exceptions) got no respect!
   Of course I loved the photos, but in my opinion the written tributes from his wife, Olivia, and his friends/fellow musicians are what sets this book apart. Paul Simon's is particularly descriptive: I felt as though I was visiting Friar Park (the Harrison's home in England) right along with him; walking through George's beloved gardens, sitting in front of the fire, listening to an impromptu ukelele concert, receiving a thoughtful surprise upon returning home to the U.S. "He wasn't particularly quiet, he just didn't DEMAND to be heard." Beautifully put. (Note to Paul Simon: you just might have a second career there; I would buy your first novel!)
   This is also a great book for aspiring guitarists, as it gives mini-descriptions of particularly noteworthy ("Essential") Harrison performances, illustrating the subtleties and unusual but brilliant choices George made (at times even innovative or ground breaking) musically. People who previously believed that Lennon and McCartney were the ONLY geniuses in the Beatles will re-think that belief after reading this section particularly: they might even listen for certain passages in certain songs and think, "YEAH, WOW! That IS amazing!" They might give George's solo work (besides "All Things Must Pass") a listen and be pleasantly surprised. But we "LLOGs" have heard and appreciated the subtle brilliance of George Harrison all along.
   This book is a must-have for any George Harrison or Beatles fan, or any guitar or rock history aficionado.



3. Geroge is consider one of the quiet one in the band "i think" but not on the music, his talent surpass any
   other musician and is really sad not to have him anymore . In this book you'll find a great deal of pics since
   the Beginning and from his solo career , a must have book to put in your collection



4. This is a beautiful and lovingly produced book of George Harrison's life in pictures with comprehensive articles and tributes written about George and heaps of great photographs and more. George's wife, Olivia Harrison wrote a moving personal Foreword that brings tears to the eye and touches chords of hearts. No George Harrison fans could miss this much sought-after item. However, whether or not you are a George Harrison or Beatles fan, this is a great book to read and a wonderful gift to give.



5. When reading about George, it is worth remembering that after a certain period, his life was sincerely oriented toward spiritual life. Rather than retiring entirely from the world, he kindly shared this dedication through many if not all of his creative works. George also had a wonderful sense of humor, to go along with his realization of the ephemeral, illusory nature of the material world. It is his, and our, great fortune that George remembered God in His most playful and attractive form as Krishna, and never forgot Him. Hare Krishna!

5 comments about Commandant of Auschwitz : The Autobiography of Rudolf Hoess.

1. This so-called "autobiography" is fiction, written, coached, and co-authored under the extreme duress of a Stalinist prison, and it shows in it's shoddy attention to the detail of the lies.
   
   For example, the book is chronologically unsound.
   
   According to his book, Hoess is ordered to come to Berlin "in the summer of 1941". The book then contains a glaring impossibility in that Reichsfuhrer SS Himmler allegedly tells him; "The existing annihilation sites in the East (Belzec, Sobibor, and Trblinka), are not in a position to handle the major actions envisaged."
   The problem is that according to standard holocaust mythology, the alleged killing activities of these camps only got started "exterminating" in the summer of 1942. In 1941, there were no "existing extermination sites in the East".
   For that reason, Jean-Claude Pressac claims the meeting must have been 1942. That, however, creates further contadictions in chronology.
   
   Firstly, Himmler's 1942 appointment book survived the war, and it contains no such entry. Once the attack on the Soviet Union began, Himmler was hardly ever even in Berlin.
   
   Secondly, by the summer of 1942, Hoess is supposedly already "gassing" Jews.
   
   Further contradictions with factual detail abound.



2. This book was very disturbing on so many levels. Yet it was also fascinating to see the progression of this semi-average person, into a person who was responsible for the deaths of millions. Read the intro by Primo Levi first to get yourself in the right frame of mind.



3. After Dachau was liberated, Army intelligence interviewed a woman at the camp who claimed to have been Rudolf Hoess' mistress while at Auschwitz. What details they could check were confirmed, and her interview became part of a Seventh Army report issued a few weeks later, a report that has been republished as Dachau Liberated: The Official Report (ISBN: 1587420031). For those who want to understand the infamous Hoess, that interview of "E.H." provides a background to his obviously self-serving autobiography. Here's a short passage from her interview:
   
   "According to my recollection, on December 16, 1942, about 11 p.m. I was already asleep, suddenly the C.O. appeared before me. I hadn't heard the opening of my cell and was such frightened. It was dark in the cell. I believed at first it was an SS man or a prisoner and said, "What is this tomfoolery, I forbid you." Then I heard "Pst," and a pocket lamp was lighted and lit the face of the C.O. I broke out "Herr Kommandant."
   
   Hoess didn't mention this clandestine affair in his autobiography, but details she gave fit with his account and with conditions at Auschwitz.



4. I have always been facinated by what makes people do the horrible things they do to each other. So, thinking (hoping actually) that by reading this SS officer's biography I would gain some insight and because all proceeds from the sale of the book benefit the victims I bought it.
   
   The book is a crashing bore. Like all Nazi's he obeys because he was ordered to obey. He was raised with a Prussian sense of duty and appears incapable of independent thought or reason. When he gets into the atrocities at the camps, he claims ignorance of or that they really were not that bad. Or, when they really were that bad, he was "sickened by them." And if he had really "Been in charge" he would have just made
   them all work camps for slave labor with no gassing. Like working people to death in a slave labor camp is better than gassing them in the first 15 minutes????? This guy's lack of humanity is so typical of the racist mentality, although he claims no hatred of the Jews. Maybe he did not hate them, but he sure murdered them by the 100,000's.
   
   I would not recommed this book. You have heard it all before. Instead buy and read "The Murders Among Us" by Simon Weisenthal. Now thats one darn good mass murder mystery and Nazi spy hunt of a story. Its like "Helter Skelter". You will read it, then ten years later read it again.
   
   I use to be a absolute death penalty supporter. As I age I find I'm not so blood-thirsty. However! There are certain persons it should be reserved for, Timothy McVeigh as an example, and Rudolph Hoess, not to be confused with Rudolph Hess (Hitler's deputy). I would pull the trap myself on Hoess if asked to. He was executed after Nuremberg.



5. 'The banality of evil 'is what comes to mind. This concept was developed by Anna Harendt at trial of criminal Nazi Eichmann in Israel in 1961 - 1962. Thus she felt that Eichmann, far from being the bloodthirsty monster we have described, is a man sadly banal, a small ambitious and zealous officer, entirely subject to the authority, unable to distinguish right from wrong. Eichmann believes perform a duty, he followed the guidelines and stopped thinking.
   
   This is what we feel about Rudolf Hoess, the commandant of the extermination camp Auschwitz. The remorse realizes sometimes, very timidly, towards the end, to be evacuated as radically it showed. The écoeurement dispute is the revolt by reading this auto-biography. A necessary reading.

3 comments about The Vanderbilt Women: Dynasty of Wealth, Glamour and Tragedy.

1. This is a must read for anyone interested in the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts were a huge part of it, and the women of the family are as dynamic as the men, in spite of the Commodore's opinion of them. Included in the book are little known figures, such as the Commodore's much put-upon wife and daughters. I found this book hard to put down and highly recommend it, especially in the newly available paperback form.



2. Though the men built the fortune, their women spent. They also took up social causes not always popular @ the time..... Their standing memoirals are the Mansions and gardens they created.



3. I HAD NO IDEA HOW INDUSTRIOUS THESE WOMEN WERE. I LIVE NEAR THE BILTMORE AND THIS INSPIRED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THE HISTORY OF THIS FAMILY. THE MEN ARE INTERESTING BUT THE WOMEN FANTASTIC. THEY DID IT ALL AND WERE A GUTSY BUNCH. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN ANTICIPATING THE NEXT ROUND.

5 comments about Freud: A Life for Our Time.

1. Disagree with two of the reviewers below: Gay is not unbearly biased in favor of Freud, book is not too much for casual dabblers in the subject.
   
   First, one could hardly expect a six hundred page biography of Freud to be authored by someone who hates the man. Important to be realistic about who writes books in the first place.
   
   Second, Freud was a prolific writer, and the book doesn't shy away from in depth analysis, so really it's like two three hundred page books. Now, if that's too much Freud for you, you're probably not that interested in the first place.
   
   I like to read biographies of thinkers who left behind copious amount of published work. That way, it's easier to get a sense of what you want to read (if anything) by the author.
   
   Because much of Freud's work revolves around family life, his family life is more then usually interesting. It's impossible to appreciate the originality of Freud's thought without having a firm context for HIS everyday life.
   
   This book provides a balanced reading of Freud's controverial life. I found the bad to be included as much as the good. Freud's influence on the 20th century has been so profound that even if you completely disagree with the man (over, say, his attitude towards women), it is still rewarding to learn about his thought.



2. May 6 was the 150th birth anniversary of Sigmung Freud; he died in London in 1939. His theories have been changed along the way by other psychologists, but they remain the basis for therapy. He believed that past conflicts cause current emotional problems, the trauma of being born was actually at the root of neurotic anxiety, and that childhood experiences are the crucible of character. He delved into the science of recollection and reflection. Some of his beliefs have been tossed aside as so much feminist bunk, but had he still been alive, he would have agreed that history will never end because it is made by human beings.
   
   Someone acting rashly (out of character) is said to be "frontal" referring to the part of the brain involved in impulse control. They react to slurs in a violent manner to protect their self-integrity. One must confront the parts of himself which are painful and shameful and difficult to face. A philosopher at the University of Chicago identifies a "core idea" on which Freud's reputation must rest, that human life is "essentially conflicted." Today, we have brain-imaging technology which can prove or disprove his mind-boggling ideas.
   
   A person of character always is truthful. Dishonesty by omission (withhold the truth) or commission (telling an untruth) is a byproduct of the change system. Don't tell people what they want to know; that is misleading. When you fail to tell the truth, minor issues escalate into major ones. You usually become angry at perceived psychological threats. Someone threatens your self-esteem, your reputation, your peace of mind, or your sense of well-being, and you explode in anger. There are biological reasons for the way we act or react to this threat to our self-preservation. Empathy helps us to contain and expand our own sense of self-esteem. You have to confront the parts of yourself (your mind) that are painful, shameful, and difficult to face.
   
   Eric Kandel wrote a book about the memory for which he won the Nobel Prize. The future of neuroscience leads us to the biology of the mind. This science is called phrenology -- a science of the mind. Why we act and think the way we do. How we interpret danger from slander. Too much sadness become depression, too much gladness becomes mania, too much fear becomes panic, and too much anger becomes rage. Can virtue be taught? In today's society we constantly search for the pursuit of happiness. One thing to question is "What makes a problem moral."
   
   It's too bad Freud isn't around to see how immoral our society has become with deceit and even by the way they dress in public. Many more humans have psychological problems these days than in the '30s, which are going unresolved. His ideas probably would be considered obsolete, but they have been expanded to include behaviorism, humanistic, mythological, cognitive behavioral therapy, even self psychology. With his sometimes wrong ideas, we can pick and choose which field is best for us to overcome our hurts (caused by others, not being born or ignored as children) and understand that we are not alone.



3. If you have minimal knowledge about the father of psychoanlaysis, or if you hold strong opinions about the "Prof" as his students and colleagues referred to him deferentially and affectionally, this work by Peter Gay will highlight the peaks of Freud's dazzling insights, and provide plenty of background for his all too human failings. Freud is presented as a man struggling with issues of family, career, and the inevitablity of death. Gay is able to condense and summarize key Freudian concepts and place them in the context of the life and cultural time of the father of psychoanalysis. For students of psychology as well as observers of our current cultural and political delusions, Gay neatly captures the details as well as the broad scope of Freud's shadow on the 20th Century and beyond.



4. Best compendium of Freud's work by far. And with intelligent commentary by Gay. Yes, some of Siggy's turgid prose is hard going but, it is worth the investment in time and effort. Read it with an open mind and you will see how timeless Freud's message is...and Gay does not sink into sycophancy, as many others did.



5. This book describes Freud`s life with deep insight, and you can review the European history at around late 19th century to the beginning of 20th century through Freud's life. Very well done.

5 comments about Grant Takes Command: 1863 - 1865.

1. A change in Focus--Grant takes the Reins

   Until 1864, the Army of the Potomac had never won a campaign. Each Union attempt to capture Richmond drove south, was repulsed, withdrew to Washington, found a new general, and tried again. After his successes at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, Grant came east to a promotion, to general in charge of all Union Armies.

   Grant brought a different focus, and Catton defines this superbly in this book, drawing on many of Grant's memoranda to other officers, as well as President Lincoln. Catton captures the essence of a Grant campaign: hold on to the enemy, grasp and retain the initiative, and always move your logistics aggresively forward.

   Catton also tries, albeit weakley, to show that Grant was not a "pure" attritionist. He offers examples of Grant's desires to push west and sever Richmond from the Shenandoah. Catton explores the political reality of uncovering Washington to a Confederate thrust, while attacking the logistics that sustained Confederate armies, while Sherman simultaneously attacked Atlanta and its strategic railhead. Catton states that after the battle of Cold Harbor Ggrant's numerical superiority was at its lowest level, but he does not provide the hard math to support this stance. On the other hand, Catton shows well the manuever warfare used by Grant to slip away after Cold Harbor, steal a march, and get across the James River before Lee, stripped of his cavalry, could discover the move and react.

   This book does a very solid job of capturing Grant's determination, his unyielding efforts to impose his will on the leaders and staff of the Army of the Potomac, and to integrate the political realities of volunteers, political appointee generals and a presidential election with the cold hard reality of constant campaigning.

   A good read not just for students of the martial art, but for any leader who must address the Sisyphean task of invigorating old "we've always done it that way" people with a new ethos and drive.




2. This is a well-researched account of the last two years of the Civil War (1863-1865). The harsh realities of the battles and living conditions are especially given great detail here. The final days of the war and the surrender of General Lee are extremely poignant as the author examines the tattered remains of the once invincible Army of Northern Virginia. The exchange between the victors and the vanquished at Appomattox is the highlight of the book. The author also takes pains not to overlook any of Grant's military blunders such as Cold Harbor and gives an even-handed viewpoint throughout. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the darkest days of our nation's history.



3. In this superb second volume on Grant's war-time service, Bruce Catton shows how Grant devised and executed the grand strategy that ensured we'd be one country.

   Beginning at Chattanooga, Catton chronicles Grant's successful battle to save a beleaguered federal army there and his selection as head of all of the armies of the Union.

   The strategic plan, the overland campaign, the investiture of Petersburg and the finale with Lee at Appomattox are chronicled well.

   What Catton does very well here is focus on Grant the General-in-Chief. We see how Lincoln and Grant are drawn toward each other through a shared and fundamental understanding of what it would take to win the war and the will to do it -- incredibly a trait Lincoln could find in no other General selected to head the Army of the Potomac.

   The actual management of the Union's armies and efforts is given great attention. Even the Civil War devotee who knows a lot about the battles of the war will appreciate this focus on grand strategy, army management and the particular and singular attributes possessed by Grant to manage the affair to a successful conclusion.

   A wonderful book, as is it's predecessor, "Grant Moves South."




4. "Grant Takes Command" is the second of two volumes by Bruce Catton on Grant's Civil War service and the third volume of a trilogy on Grant's military career (beginning with Lloyd Lewis's "Captain Sam Grant"). However, this volume can easily be ready by itself. Catton picks up the story in the fall of 1863 with Grant's successful raising of the siege of Chanttanooga, following which President Lincoln picks him for a third star and command of all the Union armies.
   
   Grant is the latest in a long series of Union commanders, most of whom have been badly beaten by General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, and none of whom have been able to bring superior Northern resources effectively to bear on a slowly weakening Confederacy. In fact, as Grant takes command, the war has not yet been won and could still be lost.
   
   Grant will be the commander that Lincoln has long sought. Lincoln's telling exchange with an aide, repeated by Catton, lays out why. Grant is the first general to take the supreme command who will work in harness with Lincoln and in full acceptance of Lincoln's constraints as President of a democracy in the midst of a civil war. Grant is prepared to take full responsibility for the conduct of the missions of the armies, and without setting up an alibi in advance for possible failure. And as it becomes apparent in the course of Catton's absolutely superb narrative, Grant understands the terrible math. Lee and his army are too proficient to be easily beaten; great persistance will be called for. Grant grasps the essential truth that Lee's army is the Confederate center of gravity, and the corallary that Lee's requirement to protect Richmond ultimately limits his ability to maneuver. Further, Grant is able to cause the Union armies to work at a common design, denying Lee the ability to reinforce Virginia by drawing on other theaters of war. The result will be a long, grinding, and exceedingly bloody campaign stretching from 1864 into 1865, as Lee's army is slowly bludgeoned to death.
   
   Catton's narrative does not spare Grant his errors; in the 1864 campaign, Grant underestimates both Lee's abilities as a general and the difficulties of conducting campaigns on such a huge scale. Grant has to learn the job of Army commander in chief on the move; the unnecessary casualties of Cold Harbor and the repeated failures to flank Lee out of position in Virginia are proof of the learning curve. But Grant's great gift is his refusal to be deterred from his objective; he pins Lee at Petersburg and uses the Union armies of Sherman and Sheridan, among others, to destroy the Confederacy's means to make war.
   
   "Grant Takes Command" was first published in 1960, and the details of the history of the Civil War have evolved since then. However, Catton's prose has stood the test of time. This is a truly magnificently told story on an epic scale and a highly recommended treat for the Civil War enthusiast and the casual reader alike.



5. It is almost amazing that even after nearly 40 years, this book still stand the test of time as one of the best studies of General U.S. Grant's tenure as the military commander of all Federal forces. The book starts off from the Chattanooga campaign in late 1863 and moving on to his promotion as overall commander and his attachment to the Army of the Potomac for the rest of the war. By this move he clearly determined that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia will be his primary target and a key to overall victory for the Union. Bruce Catton does a wonderful job in narrating each event in a clear and colorful way that make this book a joy to read.
   
   Best part of Catton's writing is the way he make individual characters stand out in a way that most pertaining to the event at hand. We understand how Lincoln and Grant bonded so well, how even Meade and Grant worked well on surface and why Grant kept his eye on the ball when grinding Lee down to earth.
   
   This book is a follow-up to Catton's earlier work, Grant Moves South which was published 7 years prior to this book and captured Grant's military activities from the beginning of the war to end of the Vicksburg campaign in 1863. As part of the two book set, Bruce Catton continued to captured the essence of Grant's military chronicles with clarity and understanding that any reader can appreciate.
   
   For anyone interested in the American Civil War, this book is sure to be part of your mandatory reading material and the best part is that its really is a great reading book.

5 comments about JFK: Remembering Jack hc*OP*.

1. jfk remembreing jack is good tribut to jfk.
   there are some rare pictures and anecdotes.
   there is a cd too. we can heard jfk at 23 and john-john speaking to his father.
   but there is not a biography, so if you want to know more about him buy another book.
   soif you are a kennedy fan or not buy it1



2. A wonderful pictorial of a brave man.
   No one is asking you to feel sorry for the Kennedys. But they do deserve respect. Yes, they could have lived long lives and grown full heads of grey hair if they had gone "with the flow" but instead they were killed for standing up for what they believed in.
   Brave people truly live Life while alive, more so in one year than cowards do in a lifetime.

   "Speak not evil of the absent: it is unjust."
   ~George Washington




3. With the purchase of this book, you get not only great pictures of the Kennedy's, but also a wonderful 60 minute CD with some of Kennedy's greatest press conferences, speeches and some phone conversations. This alone is a seller for this book. Bringing back JFK, if only for a few moments is awsome. He did things his way, you hear his conviction and beliefs in his voice, and his choice to follow those beliefs, is awe inspiring.

   I reccomend along with this book and CD the purchase of the book, "John Fitzgerald Kennedy: A Life In Pictures". They are superb together and what I feel to be 2 of the best 40th Anniversary Commemorative books on JFK.




4. This book is truly a wonderful tribute to JFK.

   Greetings from Canada from a Canadian who wants to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy.

   Kennedy was my hero when I was a 12-year-old boy, and 40 years later, President Kennedy is a true hero in the heart of a 52-year-old man.

   It seems hard to believe that 40 years have gone by since that very tragic day of Friday, Nov. 22, 1963. The day John F. Kennedy died, I shed tears and felt the world had lost a truly wonderful and remarkable leader.

   In the 40 years since the death of President Kennedy, I have built up a collection of books, photographs and political buttons from Kennedy's campaign for president in 1960. On my office wall hangs a large campaign poster with a larger-than-life photograph with a caption that reads: "A Time for Greatness" - John F. Kennedy for President. On my desk is a bust of President Kennedy. It is my way of honoring his memory and legacy.

   President Kennedy offered America and the world hope and a vision of greatness. He had courage and, like (those portrayed in) his book "Profiles in Courage," he was indeed a man of courage.

   Over the years, I had the honor to shake the hand of Robert F. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and in 1989, I spent a whole day at the John F. Kennedy Museum in Boston, where I had the honor of spending time with one of John F. Kennedy's closest friends - David Powers. Mr. Powers shared with me some wonderful memories of JFK.

   These encounters with history have reinforced my heartfelt belief that John F. Kennedy was truly a wonderful and remarkable world leader.

   Back in December of 1974, on a cold morning, I made the trip to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of President Kennedy. Though it was early and cold, I was moved by the line-up of people filing past President Kennedy's grave. Thousands of people like myself were moved by the life and times of a leader gunned down in the streets of Dallas.

   Forty years have not changed my affection and admiration for President John F. Kennedy; he has a special place in my heart.

   Michael McCafferty lives in Regina, Saskatchewan




5. I first happened to see the book at a local grocery store. It was so small and thin that I didn't even give it a second look. Even though I am a great Kennedy fan. However, at Christmas, my youngest son, gave the book to me as a gift. I smiled and thanked him and thought that I would look at it just to please him. But then I found the cd that came along with the book and it was incredible. In 1940 JFK tells a radio audience that if America didn't start re-arming we would be caught off guard the same as london was. What an incredible foresight he had. The other selections on the cd are well worth listening too. Including JFK reciting an autobiographical segment, handling a stubborn southern governor regarding James Merridith, and an adorable exchange between President Kennedy and his 2 year old son.