1 comments about El gran engano: Fidel Castro y el narcotrafico internacional.

1. Un libro excelente que explica la relación histórica que Fidel y Raul Castro han tenido con le narcotráfico. Este libro además explica a fondo algunos de los personajes más interesantes que han acompañado a los hermanos Castros desde los principios de la revolución cubana

5 comments about The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill: Alone, 1932-1940.

1. This was the first William Manchester book that I ever read. I found it inspiring. After reading it, I promised myself that I would read everything that Manchester has written. To date I've read several but I still have a few to go. Mr. Manchester is another one of those historians that makes studying and learning History easy. I had no idea what a character Winston Churchill really was. Manchester recreates a real true to life human being, with faults, idiocincracies, humor, courage, and some great phrasing. After reading both volumes of Manchester's on Churchill, I then wanted to read Churchill himself. From a writing perspective Churchill was great - but Manchester was better. Today I am a fan of both men. They were both heroic in their lives and fascinating in their prose.



2. For some inexplicable reason, the second (and unfortunately final) volume of William Manchester's biography sat on my shelf unread for some time. I think because the book spans the years 1932 to 1940 -- and does not cover most of World War II -- I skipped the book over, figuring that Winston's best and most important years were his war years. After reading "Alone", I realized immediately how wrong I was: if anything, Manchester's incredible book demonstrates that Churchill's so-called "wilderness years" out of power were his finest hour. Unquestionably, Churchill provided resolute leadership to Great Britain -- as well as the rest of the Allied world -- during the War. But he perhaps demonstrated even greater leadership while out of power, when he was quite literally the only European statesman who was repeatedly warning the world of the dangers of Nazi Germany and calling for rearmament to stand up to Hitler. Thus, "Alone" is not just about Churchill and his greatness, but also a powerful historical record of the dangers of appeasement in the face of tyrants.
   
   This book goes beyond being a simple historical biography. Manchester's writing is delightful and seamless, literally depositing you into Churchill's time and Churchill's life. It maintains and builds a tenseness throughout the book as the world moves closer and closer to war despite Churchill's warnings, which if heeded, could have averted the conflict many times over. The work is meticulously researched and crafted, and flows perfectly. Perhaps most of all, reflective of the title, Manchester captures how completely and totally alone Churchill was during the 1930s. Aside from a very small coterie of loyal friends, Churchill alone rose in opposition to appeasement in the House of Commons and elsewhere hundreds of times as Hitler consolidated his power, practically begging his nation's leadership to stand up to the Fuhrer.
   
   I suppose that one sign of a great work is that it moves you in some way, and evokes great emotion as you read it. The most striking asset of this book is how angry, shocked, and prideful I was as I read it. I shook my head in disgust at least 100 times as I read Manchester's descriptions of the putrid, almost treasonous behavior by Prime Ministers John MacDonald, Stanley Baldwin, and of course Neville Chamberlain as they repeatedly ignored Churchill's warnings and countless pieces of evidence showing that Hitler would not be appeased. Manchester's sections on the Munich Crisis and Britain and France's literal sacrifice of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis is particularly noteworthy; the Chamberlain government literally served the nearly defenseless nation on a platter to the German war machine despite a pledge from the British to defend them if invaded. Much of the book in fact summarizes the folly of His Majesty's Government's appeasement policy, and Churchill's many warnings against the policy. Fascinatingly, appeasement was heartily endorsed by nearly the entire British media establishment, which repeatedly refused to air Churchill's views and other dissenting voices. Indeed, as Manchester well demonstrates, the government and media literally crafted its policies and made important appointments, with pleasing Hitler being the sole objective. While hindsight is of course 20-20, reading these sections was completely maddening to me, and made me want to scream many times over.
   
   I hesitated writing a review of this book because I know it is impossible to do full justice to Manchester and this fantastic book. I just wanted to express how much I enjoyed the book; it completely lives up to its reputation as perhaps the finest Churchill biography and easily the most accessible. I, like millions of other readers, am greatly saddened that illness and other tragedies kept Manchester from completing the final volume of his intended trilogy. Treat yourself to this book: it will give you greater appreciation of Winston Churchill's greatness, courage, and foresight, and probably an even greater hatred of appeasement and diplomatic cowardice.
   
   Five big stars.



3. This book was given to me by my father, who is a huge fan of Winston. I was absolutely shocked and amazed by the information that this book brought to light. I was taught, so little about WWII! I was amazed. I savored this book. I would recommend and have recommended this book to anyone, who would listen. Prepare to be amazed by the man and confronted with the real realities of Britain before and during the first declarations of war.



4. There are two volumn of "The Last Lion" and both are them are an excellent history of not only one of Great Britain's finest statesman of the 20th century, but one of the World greatest statesman, historian, and many have said "the man of the 20th Century" And after reading these two volumns one might have to agreee with the historians.
   Congtributed by Hurdrey Angus Jordan



5. A frightening story with a redoubtable yet all too human hero who prevails. There are even evil and bumbling villains along the way during this shameful period. The Last Lion should be required reading for politicans and world history students. William Manchester does a masterful, well researched [and entertaining] job of describing the inspirational leader of the Free World.

2 comments about The Death and Resurrection of Jefferson Davis (American Crisis (Rowman & Littlefield)).

1. I have read many books on the War Between the States and very rarely come across a topic which is new. This book covers a subject that is little known by even culture concious Southerners. A very good read about an event that was pivotal in post war Southern History. If you are a Southerner this is a must. If you have any interest in the post war treatment of the personalities on that conflict, you will enjoy.
   
   Winston Churchill wrote - "Poor is a nation that has no heroes. Poorer still is one that has them and forgets them."
   
   This author has presented us with a way of remembering one of our Southern heroes. I think many readers will be surprised by this work.
   
   Highly recomended to Southerners and anyone who has an interest in the human experience.



2. Jeff Davis, beloved by many in the South and known as the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War died from heartbreak and mistreatment and looked old in his coffin on Dec. 5, 1889. His funeral train was as popular as Lincoln's removal to his home state of Illinois and much later FDR's train trip back from Georgia to Washington, D. C.
   
   When his body was laid in state in New Orleans, the prominence of the U. S. flags illustrated his burial as an officer in the American Army prior to his notoriety during the Civil War. He was first buried in a tomb of the Army of Northern Virginia in Metairie Cemetery.
   
   In May 28-31, 1893, after it has been displayed in the rotunda of the state capital in Raleigh, North Carolina, it was sent on to Richmond, Virginia. The route of the Jefferson Davis funeral train left New Orleans, stopped in Beavoir, Mobile, Montgomery, Alabama, Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, Greensboro, also stopped in Danville, Virginia. The funeral carriage was a remodeled artillery caisson with the U. S. flag prominently displayed. His remains were transferred to Hollywood Cemetery, The Third National Flag of the Confederacy decorated the head of his final resting place, with the Battle Flag at the foot. There is a bronze statute on his grave in the Davis Circle family plot at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
   
   Much maligned after the South lost the war, he was imprisoned in shackles and chains at Fort Monroe. His life and reputation has sunk to a seemingly unredeemable low. During the first three years after his death, his public image was ressurrected to a state of near adulation, and his fellow Southerners recognized him as one of their most important sons. He remains so today.
   
   The reburial three and a half years after his death demonstrated that Southerners increasingly were growing more overtly proud of the Confederacy. On June 3, 1907, a remarkable monument designed by Valentine and Noland was unveiled on what would have been his 99th birthday. It still stands in the park named in his honor in Memphis. It included the Confederate flags and symbols. Let by a group of University of Tennessee professors from the North, they are trying to have his memorial park renamed and the statue removed.
   
   It was a great American and did what he thought was best for the South, his beloved countryside. It's too bad that his life following the Civil War was so harmful to his health and what he had stood for. The flag has been removed from South Carolina's state flag, and Maryville College here in Tennessee can't keep their Rebel flag. What on earth is going on? Do those Northerners want another Civil War? It is best to leave dead dogs buried and the prejudices along with them. We natives of the South will always love Jeff Davis and what he stood for; the flag will never die. Resurrection is at hand.
   
   This historian has also written WAR CRIME OR INJUSTICE? GENERAL GEORGE PICKETT AND THE MASS EXECUTION OF DESERTERS IN CIVIL WAR KINSTON, NORTH CAROLINA and AN UNQUIET TIME: ALABAMA AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, 1950-68, among many other Southern history.

5 comments about Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush.

1. Why do we need a book on the minutiae of Bush's presidency? Those who don't realize Bush has been a disaster for America - and for the world! - will never realize it. Bush is near the end of his presidency. Do we really need to absorb so much information about Bush's conduct while in the White House? How much of it will we ever be able to recall? If you love politics, and are privileged enough to be able to isolate yourself from the harsh realities most of us face, this book is an enjoyable read. If you live in the real world, find politics abhorrent - merely a game of my group/class attempting to dominate your group/class - then this book will just wear you down still further.
   
   When Bush got elected in 2000, I knew virtually nothing about the guy. In 2008, America will have a new president. Robert Parry would have done better to have written a book about those running for office next year. Let us know now about America's future president what we should have known about Bush in 2000.
   
   "Neck Deep" is not about a lesson learned - history teaching us to think/behave differently - it's a book with two feet in the past, holding us back.
   
   What Robert Parry does not cover is the economic dimensions to U.S. foreign policy because, as an apologist for the Democratic Party, Parry does not want to tell us what the Democrats and Republicans have in common. Parry concentrates solely on the warmongering of Bush. The Democrats, therefore, come across as almost smelling of roses by comparison. Parry paints a fraction of the picture. Bush is not an anomaly. Bush is part of a pattern that goes back decades and straddles both the Democratic and Republican political leaderships. Bush is just too "heavy handed" and "bungling" for most to tolerate.
   
   The Republicans and Democrats share the same economic policies towards poorer nations - of which Iraq is now one.
   
   In an article by Robert Parry about Russia, he spoke about the crooked Russian businessmen who, after the fall of communism, stole from the Russian people, lining their own pockets. Parry did not mention, however, that the U.S. sent economic advisers to Russia recommending that the assets of that country be quickly sold off, and thus a few well-connected individuals gained immense economic power almost overnight, individuals who cared more about their own interests than the interests of the Russian people. This was a time when Clinton was in office.
   
   I recommend "Web of Deceit" by Mark Curtis, a British historian, for a complete picture (search for it on Amazon and read the reviews on Amazon UK, and check out Mark's site markcurtis dot info). It is about British foreign policy - but America is part of that - and what Britain does, America does, albeit on a much larger scale.



2. The America that existed before 2000 is now basically in shambles. Just about every fundamental American principle, even biggies like the constitutional rule of law and the separation of powers, is under attack. Want more? Torture, secret prisons, warrantless spying - I could go on. Our reputation around the world, even in the eyes of our allies, has been ruined, and we are stuck in a bloody occupation of a foreign land that was no threat to us.
   
   So what happened? (911 and/or GWB? Not so simple, as you'll see.) This is the question the book sets out to answer. If the United States is to recover, then it's important to examine exactly how and why we got into this mess in the first place. Veteran independent journalist Robert Parry of consortium news (.com) has written a book that does the best job by far I've ever seen (and I read a lot) of explaining how it happened.
   Blame, most of all, a complicit mainstream media, and a right-wing media propaganda apparatus that together can basically trick many average citizens into believing things that simply aren't true - ie "Iraq has a massive weapons of mass destruction program," and "Saddam is in league with Al Qaeda" etc.
   
   The thoroughness of the research presented here is easily worth five stars. It should come as no surprise that Mr. Parry could write such a book. He is the same man that first helped to expose the corruption in the Reagan administration re: Iran-contra. Not only is his book enlightening, it is quite an interesting read for anyone concerned with the course our government has taken since the 2000 selection.



3. NECK DEEP A Review
   Nat, Robert, and Sam Parry
   The Media Consortium, Arlington, VA
   2007
   418 pp.
   Reviewed by Mildred Perry Miller, Chattanooga, TN
   
   I have been "neck deep" in the book Neck Deep by Nat, Robert, and Sam Parry since I received the tome in my Christmas stocking. The subtitle is The Disastrous
   Presidency of George W. Bush. For those who have been observing the adminis-
   tration of George Bush since its inception on a chilling rainy day in Washington, DC, January 20, 2001, it has been an ominous time and 7 years of appre-
   hension and dismay. In fact, the way the election was handed to George W. Bush
   by five Republican members of the Supreme Court, since Bush had lost the pop-
   ular vote and all of the votes in Florida had not been counted, still elicits many
   questions. In this book, the Parrys are determined to answer the question of "Who
   Killed the American Republic?" for it is dead according to what it was before the intrusion of George W. Bush onto the American scene.
   
   The Parrys theorize, and rightly so, that it is not just Bush who has brought our
   beloved America to its impending demise; other perpetrators have been the
   so-called media pundits, both political parties, all forms of the media, and the public in general. The most prolific and worst offenders in distorting America's
   history and proscribing the Constitution and having the most influence on foreign
   policy and the thinking of Bush have been those people calling themselves the
   neo-cons, namely Wolfowitz, William Kristol, Abrams, Kagan,Krauthammer, John Bolton, David Wurmser, Richard Perle, James Woolsey, I. Lewis Libby, Max Boot, Norman Podhoretz, Dick Cheney, and many others. These men fostered the phil-
   osophy that the Middle East needed to be democratized and that it could only be
   done by force. They had, in fact, according to Neck Deep ,tried to get President
   Clinton to declare war on Iraq and are now eager to have Bush bomb or declare
   war on Iran. Many think the immediate goals are oil and power and military bases.
   
   Major newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post, plus many
   talk show hosts and reporters,supported Bush throughout the time when war was
   being discussed and even later. Some of the most vociferous and supportive of
   Bush's war were Joe Scarborough, Brit Hume, Chris Matthews, Charles Kraut-
   hammer, Mort Kondracke, Fred Barnes. Chris Matthews even went so far as to say
   "We are all neo-cons now." Cal Thomas thought that those who disagreed with
   the war should have their words recorded and filed away so they could be used
   against them later. The neo-cons had been for war in the Middle East for years.
   
   The Parrys, authors of Neck Deep, feel that a deep decay was taking place in Amer-
   ica at the time Bush seized the presidency and that he took advantage of that,
   himself having very little knowledge of history or the rule of law or the role of the
   President in our society. He, with advice from his Attorney Generals and others,
   felt he could supersede any law and proceeded to act accordingly, and if anyone
   disagreed, they were probably terrorists. His motto was, "You are either with us
   or you are against us."
   
   If anyone is interested in the factual truth about what has happened to America, and wants to know who has killed the American Republic, they should read this
   book and take it to heart. Those who have driven the war and planned it do not,
   in most instances,havesons and daughters among the dead and wounded. Most
   of them have not gone to war when they were of war age. The Parrys feel that much of the damage of this administration could have been avoided. All of the
   evidence was there before us, but out of fear and intimidation, too many people
   went along and made no effort to learn the truth. This book will explain how the
   9/11 tragedy was used to disregard and ignore the safeguards built into our sys-
   tem, and "how the Washington political /media elite failed the country." In fact,
   the 9/11 tragedy and other concepts completely pulled the wool over the eyes of
   millions of Americans, including the 77 Democrats in the Senate who voted to
   authorize Bush to invade Iraq, even though no WMDs had been discovered after
   months of searching. The world is much less safe now than it was in 2001,thanks
   to Bush and the neo-cons.
   
   Finally, many public figures are exposed for what they are and the myths that have
   been built up around them have been stripped away. One can see and understand
   them as real people with flaws and also better natures, with explanations as tohow
   they have made our country into what it is today. I highly recommend this book
   and believe it lends itself to truth and American patriotism. This book is readable,
   written with great clarity, interesting, and rewarding in that one can finally learn all
   of the truth of just what has happened here and in Iraq that is dragging America
   down. While the truths in this book show the demonic behavior of some of the
   officials in government, the authors end on a note of hope, saying "by Spring 2007
   a change could be detected in public awareness of the national crisis. Perhaps
   the most hopeful sign was that many Americans had come to understand how little the Washington insiders...deserved to be trusted. That skepticism, if it were ever
   combined with serious demands for reform, could be the start of a rebirth for the
   American Republic." In his second inaugural Lincoln called for a rebirth of freedom and that is what is needed now.
   
   
   
   



4. Robert Parry shows that although Bush has the most responsibility for the Iraq War and other crimes of his administration he shares responsibility with the mainstream media which was unwilling to put Bush's claims about links between Al-Qaeda and Iraq and Iraq possessing WMD the proper scrutiny. The media's culpability is aggravated by the fact that they put much more scrutiny on the comparatively smaller scandals of the Clinton Administration. The alternative media such as the authors website Consortium.com and Air America Radio. The author also does a good job of exposing the myths behind Colin Powells reputation for integrity showing that he helped to cover up the My Lai massacre in Vietnam and that he was involved in the Iran-Contra scandal.



5. I can only review the quality of service for this delivery of this book because I gave it as a gift and have not read it myself. The price and shipping were extremely outstanding...but what was the even better was that Amazon actually had the book in stock. I went to several book stores locally and even had Borders do a company search all to no avail. Then I checked here and it was available and in stock for much (do stress much) cheaper than all the others. And I had the book at my doorstep within 3 days...what more can be said...

No comments about The Presidents Fact Book Revised and Updated!.

2 comments about Herbert Hoover: Forgotten Progressive.

1. I'm reading a bio of each President and was actually excited to get to Hoover. I figured he couldn't be nearly as bad as his reputation and there might be some insight as to how he was so successful in most of his life, but failed so miserably as president. Alas, there is not. The book seems well-researched, but there is a stunning lack of personal detail. Almost nothing other than Hoover's offical writings are cited. No anecdotes from friends. No personal correspondance. Before he went into government, he spent most of his adult life overseas. Surely there would be some interesting tales from those adventures, I thought. None. If you have to do research on Hoover, I suppose this is a fine place to start. However, if you're a bio fan and looking for some insight into the man and the times, don't bother. To be fair, such a book may not exist or even be feasible with Hoover. This one definitely isn't it.



2. Hoover was blamed for the Great Depression. He had trouble with the Federal Reserve and the New York Stock Exchange. Seven months into his term, the stock market crashed. By 1932, 12 million were out of work. The good thing to come from his term was Hoover Dam, located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. This hydroelectric dam harnesses the Colorado River to produce electricity for Arizona, Nevada and California. There was controversy about the dam's name. Democrats wanted it called Boulder Dam because of Hoover's failed presidency and because it was originally to be built upriver across Boulder Canyon.

5 comments about Road Song.

1. As a fellow writer oh how I hated Natalie Kusz as I read her book. She is that rare combination of a brilliant writer and someone with something to say. I could barely contain my envy, and admiration, as I read. This is a book that disappoints only because it ends.



2. Originally it was the title that popped out on this one: aha! another great travel novel, I hoped. Oh no, much better and much more intense!!! A woman reconstructs for us the story of her unusual "hippy" parents, her father a refugee from Poland's wartime harshness. The parents have four children and cannot stand the modern life of the Southern California suburbs. Off they go, packed up in an old truck, all the way to Alaska. With a relative's gift/loan, they buy land and begin to build a house on the outskirts of Fairbanks. Needless to say, money is very tight, jobs are scarce, and the winter is setting in. The parents scrounge through the Salvation Army and the local U.S. Army dump for supplies, even finding food to keep them going. They are true pioneers in the face of horrible winter weather: -50F in a perpetual icefog, through which the kids sometimes trek to get to the the schoolbus stop.
   
   Natalie's account of her horrific accident, when underfed huskies break their chains and rip her face off, ruining one eye, is one of these memoirs almost impossible to believe is true. But yes, it is true, and luckily the parents have insurance, and are able, in the late 1960's, to save their daughter, fight infection from reaching her brain, and have her face reconstructed over years of medical appointments.
   
   In addition to this horrible disaster, the parents are barely making it financially, and for years, simply live together packed in a trailer out in the wilderness, far from town. The kids get older, need to go to school, and find that the local town is full of rough-tough kids, mainly from the U.S.Army base, who early fall into drugs, drinking and promiscuity. So of course, our Natalie does so as well, but doesn't tell her parents, until the news she can't avoid: she's pregnant at 16.
   
   On and on this story goes, and makes the reader want to keep on going for more. It's true that it's not exceptionally well-written - certainly it seems a bit too casual in its style. The author, only 27, does come across as self-involved, but perhaps that's understandable. Her mother's early death and father's early onset of heart disease make this tragedy almost unbearable. One wonders how she really could have done it all, including with the little girl, raising her alone.
   
   Definitely a great read, not at all typical "American" in any yearning for a better life. She concludes that she is attached to Alaska and decides at the time of writing (1990) that she will go back and stay up there, near her father's house.



3. I read this book years ago, and found it very moving. I think Ms. Kusz is a good writer and extremely courageous. Her childhood (quite honestly) sounds horrible, but her parents are very loving and kind and smart.
   
   One thing that did disturb me about the book was that Ms. Kusz seemed to need to convince us that her parents were right in leaving LA for Alaska. For example, she writes that she and her siblings (aged 1 to 7) were sick of modern life and its accroutrements. This is hard to believe! Little kids don't know enough about the world yet to be sick of it.
   
   In LA, her parents had a house, jobs, a large backyard, family close by, warm weather, etc. In Alaska, they had nothing. They didn't even have enough money to buy the land they wanted so much. How could her parents uproot four young kids for such an uncertain future! Can you imagine her mom's life--even before Natalie's terrible accident. Four little kids, no money, not enough food, husband away working, living in a trailer with no bathroom, the weather sometimes 50 or 60 below.
   
   All the things her parents wanted--outdoor life, contact with wildlife, streams, orchards, etc., -- none of that happens in Alaska. There's no mention of the family having fun doing "country" things. It seems their adventure was not successful. Perhaps if Natalie hadn't gotten hurt things might have been different, but it doesn't seem that likely. They still were poverty-stricken, without a home or a job, living in a place where it got 70 below. I once saw a review that said the Kusz decision to move was almost comprable to child abuse, and I am tempted to agree.
   
   With that said, I really admire Natalie's ability to rise above a terribly painful childhood, filled with extraordinary physical pain. I hope she is well and I wish she'd write another book.



4. I was very excited when I found this memoir at a gently used bookstore. I thought it was very good. I felt like I was traveling to Alaska right along with Natalie. This is one of those books that you hope will have a sequel someday.



5. In a culture that demonizes the poor and marginalizes the children of the poor, the Kusz family faces more than just 70 below temperatures, the author's tragic accident, hunger and squalor. Those who live more mainstream (read that affluent and conforming) lives, imagine those who live in rural (or urban) poverty as morally, intellectually and spiritually as well as financially impoverished. What Natalie Kusz does in this unforgettable memoir is to slow the reader down and draw her up close to those who travel that other road-- to allow the reader to view scenes of violence, abuse, charity and grace. The book is beautifully written. The only thing I would argue with is locating the father's backstory so close to the end of the book in one large chunk, instead of interspersing part of it throughout the book where it might shed some light on his own particular demons. Interestingly, I read each of the other reviews of this book and found in every one some bit of wisdom and thoughtfulness. This book is well worth reading twice--first for the story and then for a fruitful discussion of memoir.

1 comments about Complete Life of William McKinley and Story of His Assassination.

1. This book appears to be a set of photocopies of a book in the public domain. The photographs are almost impossible to discern. There are many pages that are just plain missing!!!!

   The book itself gives a brief overview of McKinley's life and career. It was written shortly after he was assassinated, though, and reads like a long eulogy. As a matter of fact, page after page is filled with directly quoted excerpts of actual eulogies given at the time of his death.

   Interesting historical artifact. Not serious history.

No comments about Erasmus (Past Masters).

4 comments about Sailor in the White House: The Seafaring Life of FDR.

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt loved the sea, sailing and all things nautical. He was America's greatest seafaring president, spending more time sailing, fishing and swimming than any president in our nations's history. And this book tells very interesting minute of it.

   In Robert F. Cross' terrific new book, "Sailor in the White House: the Seafaring Life of FDR," the author offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Roosevelt's time on the sea. What makes this book such a treat, is that many of the stories are told through the voices of those who actually sailed with the president, and who shared their tales with the author for the first time.

   Through interviews with Secret Service agents, Roosevelt staff and family members, and contemporaries of the president, Cross exposes a whole new dimension of FDR's life, a dimension which-until this book-has never been explored in the countless biographies of the 32nd president; but it is a dimension which is key to understanding FDR's character and governing style.

   The author logs just about every minute FDR spent on the water, and lists all the vessels he was aboard during his entire lifetime-an extraordinary record for anyone, but particularly for one whose legs were paralyzed from polio. From canoes to lifeboats, schooners to destroyers, and battleships to submarienes, Roosevelt never passed up an opportunity to be on the water. The author meticulously records each vessel, noting the type of craft and the years Roosevelt was aboard. No such list existed until now.

   The never-before-told stories, including one in which FDR's life was threatened when a fire broke out aboard his schooner, and rare photographs shared with the author are laid out for us within the overall framework of two world wars and the Great Depression. A never-before-published photograph shows FDR seated in a wheelchair; this is only the third such photo known to exist in the more than 35,000 photographs of the president in the FDR library. And Cross has found it!

   As we tag along with Roosevelt on New York State's Barge Canal, the atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean, and witness his many antics and adventures, the author skillfully keeps the reader current on world and national affairs, allowing us to see behind the newspaper and newsreel footage, while weaving in the unfolding and perilous world
   history.

   The tales of FDR hiding from his Secret Service guards are amusing, providing a glimpse of a fearless president who valued his privacy and went to great lengths to protect it. FDR never permitted secret Service agents to travel aboard his small vessels; they had to travel behind on destroyers and Coast Guard cutters. He played "cat and mouse" with the agents, who really had their hands full protecting FDR. The author's interviews with FDR's Secret Service agents are priceless.

   Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., calls this book "delightful." It is that to be sure-but, it is much, much more. "Sailor in the White House" provides a new and valuable insight into the make-up and character of the only American president ever elected to four terms. FDR never passed up an opportunity to be on the water, a place where he felt most at home. A place which helped him to relax and gain perspective as he tackled the most difficult problems ever filled by an American President. I recommend this book highly.
   
   Martin Davis, Ph.D.




2. This is a book I could not "put down" once I started reading it. My problem is I get into the index which takes me every where in the book. However, when I finally got it all together I found it to be both historic and above all informative. I grew up in the Roosevelt era and this book has given me an entirely new insight of his time.
   Thank you Mr.Cross.



3. This was an excellent view of another side of FDR that as a sailor of the same waters, I found exceptionally interesting.

   Not only was the book extremely well written but it was full of glimpses of this president which added a new perspective to my knowledge of his presidency.

   It is a wonderful experience to stumble across a biographical work about a man about whom so much has been written and yet find an entirely new and different view of the person's life.

   Bravo!!!




4. I just finished reading "Sailor in the White House." Now, I finally understand what strongly influenced FDR throughout his entire government career. In his fresh and probing new biography, author Robert Cross opens up a whole new dimension in the life of our 32nd president.

   FDR used his expert sailing skills and instincts to guide America through the Great Depression and on to victory in World War II. He was always ready to compromise, change tack or revise his plans based on the changing political landscape...just as he did when he sailed the world's oceans. What an ingenious way to look at President Roosevelt! I thank the author for sharing his important insights with all of us. Great job!