1 comments about Sobibor: A History of a Nazi Death Camp.

1. Before reading this book, I had no idea that this type of revolt had been carried out during the Holocaust. The book is extremely detailed, to the point of reminding me of a history textbook. Schelvis has clearly done his research; he makes a point of citing his sources. The end of the book includes an impressive list of all known victims and survivors to go through Sobibor. Schelvis gives a complete history of the camp itself, beginning with its construction and ending with the place's status today. Maps are included as well.
   
   This is not an emotional read. Although Schelvis survived a stint in the camp himself, he barely mentions that experience. Rather, he seems determined to present the facts, the who, what, where, and when of Sobibor. Considering the atrocities carried out there, reading an account of this death camp might be impossible for many were the account not so unemotional. It is not a book I will read a second time, but I am very glad I read it once. Even without emotional drama on the writer's part, the story of these prisoners' refusal to die quietly is both inspiring and tragic. I had sometimes wondered why concentration camp prisoners never (as far as I knew) rebelled. Now I know.

1 comments about World History Biographies: Anne Frank: The Young Writer Who Told the World Her Story (NG World History Biographies).

1. Attractively designed, this latest entry in the National Geographic World History Biographies is packed with information. Organized into brief, readable chapters, the book covers Anne's early years, her life growing up, her family's being forced into hiding at the Annex, and their discovery and deportation. It describes Anne and Margot's tragic deaths at the ages of 15 and 19 from typhoid at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, just months before liberation. A timeline of World War II and Holocaust events runs across the bottom of many of the two-page spreads. Statistics, maps, and information are interspersed about the European Jews, their customs, beliefs and holidays. Much of the book's information is in text boxes, juxtaposed on top of other information. There are lots of black and white and color photos, some of which were taken by Otto Frank showing Anne's early life. The visual appeal of Anne's plaid diary cover is the backdrop for the table of contents and some of the pictures, including those at the end which show young would-be writers how the story of the publication of Anne's diary have resulted in subsequent play and movie adaptations, and sustained the world's continued fascination with her life. Included are a glossary, bibliography, websites, and an index. The author has also written Eleanor of Aquitaine and Mandela for this series. The narrative's casual, informal tone seems to be meant to introduce younger readers to Anne Frank's life, and sometimes clashes with the somber information and very graphic concentration camp pictures, which are more appropriate for older readers. For ages 11-14. Reviewed by Andrea Davidson

No comments about One Who Came Back: The Diary of a Jewish Survivor.

1 comments about Her Works Praise Her.

1. I loved this book! Every Jewish woman (and man) and everyone interested in Jewish life in America should read it. It gives a view of American and Jewish history I had never seen before, and it is beautifully written. It is full of moving stories of real women working to build America at every period of history. I had never understood how important women have been in creating the American Jewish community. Just wonderful!

No comments about A Jewish doctor in Auschwitz:: The Testimony of Sima Vaisman.

4 comments about Atlas of the Bible (Readers Digest).

1. A valuable addendum to general reference. Excellently presented, as with most Readers Digest products. The ideal companion book to this is the wonderful "THE Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. Readers digest shows you where the Master walked, Patton shows you exactly who left the footprints!



2. "Atlas of the Bible" is filled with maps aplenty, photographs of archealogical sites, and some cut away illustrations that would make Richard Scary proud. As a reference - particularly for school reports - it's pretty good. It includes people/animals/currency of the bible and a gazeteer in the back (a sort of dictionary with everything from short biographies to a list of books in the bible).

   It's probably a little dry for yonger kids - in part, because the land isn't quite as interesting as the people; and also, because the layout has some pages reading like one very long paragraph (though I'm sure this was done to allow room for more pics, but it's not easy on the eyes).

   It's not as successful as its Reader's Digest companion, "Who's Who in the Bible", but if you hunger for more (particularly the "when" and "where") this makes a good addition. 4 stars for content; -1 for layout.




3. I know there is a tendency to look down one's nose at Reader's Digest products, but this book is a very nice addition to anyone's library, if you can find a used copy floating around. The best feature is the full color maps and photo's - easily some of the best I have ever seen. The four full page maps on pp 44-47 (and reproduced in part throughout the text as smaller detail maps) are particularly impressive and alive with color, although the scale is about 8 miles to the inch, so alot of detail is lost. The text is well written and, as far as I can tell, reasonably accurate, although the lack of sources (other than Biblical citations) is a little annoying.



4. ANOTHER IN READER'S DIGEST'S SEVERAL EXCELLENT BOOKS ON THE BIBLE, THIS ONE PROVIDES A GREAT OVERVIEW OF BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.PLENTY OF MAPS TAKE THE READER FROM PLACE TO PLACE AS THE EVENTS OF JEWISH HISTORY UNFOLD.THERE ARE ALSO MANY BIOGRAPHIES OF KEY FIGURES THROUGHOUT THE WORK, AS WELL AS AN INDEX AND DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS AND PLACE NAMES MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. ANOTHER MUST HAVE FOR ANY BIBLICAL LIBRARY.

1 comments about Eternal Strangers.

1. After having read Shanghai Diary, I was waiting with great anticipation for Ursula Bacon's next book "Eternal Strangers." It did not disappoint. When I read a book in one and a half days, I consider it an excellent read and that's exactly how long it took me to read this book. It takes place before the years Ursula spent in a Shanghai ghetto as a young girl with her family escaping the horrors of Hitler's Nazi machine. It focused on the early years of her parents and extended family living in a beautiful, idyllic area of Germany where life was good until the unthinkable happened; leaving everything you possessed except for a small suitcase of clothing for the sole purpose of survival. Possessions became meaningless in their flight from evil. When I finished the book, I became immobilized for awhile in the solitude of my room contemplating today's current situation in the Middle East. Could a holocaust happen again?
   
   If you are interested in this period of history, this book takes you right there. You feel the strain of a family maintaining a normal life but at the same time fearing the daily anxiety of being hauled off by the Gestapo.
   
   I highly recommend this book to be reminded of the horrors of evil. We must not forget!

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.

1 comments about To Life: 36 Stories of Memory and Hope.

1. This book is not a dry or historical account of Holocaust events. It is,rather, a story of people and artifacts and memories. Tying some of the tragic events of the Holocaust with life before and afterwards, brings hope and a positive outlook to the reader. A must for everyone's library - it renews one's faith in people's abilitiy to overcome severe hardships and renew their lives. A very positive reading and living lesson!

1 comments about Great Jews In Entertainment.

1. Any of the "great Jewish" books by Darryl Lyman are swell. Big coffee table books with great black and white photos and interesting bios of Jewish folks in the entertainment business. I'm Jewish and I did not know Harrison Ford was a yidloch [a Jewish boychick]! Note-this is the same coffee table book, essentially as Lyman's tome called Great Jews in showbusiness [or some such title, I know cause I bought both! One was done in 1999 and one 2005. The 2005 book has a few new additions but is virtually the same. Such a deal!