5 comments about Henry Knox: Visionary General of the American Revolution.

1. In very many ways, the story of the United States is also Henry Knox' story, of someone from humble beginnings, including a physical handicap, rising to be a significant part in the American Revolution, through personal efforts and overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. Knox may not have been an architect of victory, but he certainly was one of the major instruments of it. An American `Man For All Seasons', his range of talents, as well as personal and professional growth, were amazing: valor and leadership in the field; extraordinary organizational skills; trusted senior advisor to George Washington; quick in developing tactics and tools to accommodate the Continental Army's myriad weaknesses; founder of the US Navy; recognizing and exploiting new technology; founder of West Point Military Academy; architect of a professional officer corps. These and more were contributions he made that not only served the immediate struggle for the US' existence, but also provided tools for subsequent national leaders who were grateful for having them as instruments of policy. And, like all of George Washington's `family', he had a sense of honor that was sorely tested by the pointed, repeated and deliberate failures of national political leaders, something that exists still in today's modern military. The 257 pages are organized into 12 chapters and an Epilog, with extensive notes and bibliography. The time span is from his early years to his untimely death. A delightful read, and highly recommended.



2. From Boston street rat to American revolutionary general to the first U.S. Secretary of War, the career of Henry Knox rose steadily and triumphantly despite a life dogged by personal tragedy. Knox's quick intellect allowed him to turn bombardment theory gained through voracious reading into expert practice during the American Revolution; his unflagging optimism and good-natured love of people charmed open the doors to the halls of political power; his reliability and integrity gained him the respect and admiration of the army and its civic leadership. Perhaps the greatest testament to his spirit was his refusal to break under the deaths of nine children and the gradual mental collapse and death of William, his only sibling.
   
   Puls's biography of Knox falls into the category of "Better than Nothing." Knox, for whom the famed repository of American gold is named, deserves the limelight Puls shines on him. Also, Puls's writing is clear and exciting, the kind of prose that captures the imagination and holds it tightly. However, this is not a scholarly work, and it shows. Speculation on what Knox may have felt or thought is too prominent, and there isn't much in the way of scientifically-historical investigation. This popular biography fills a thoroughly necessary spot in the American library--to introduce the casual reader to a great historical figure who may otherwise have been forgotten. It's simply unfortunate that Knox has the popular biography without the definitive scholarly work to undergird it.



3. This is a very readable and much needed history of a forgotten founder of our country. I'd never read much of anything about Knox except that he got the cannons from Ticonderoga to Boston at the start of the revolution. It never occurred to me to think much about why Washington put so much trust in him and named him to his cabinet. There are a few minor errors, such as Puls statement that Hamilton wasn't able to run for President due to his foreign birth (false - per Article II, anyone a citizen at the adoption of the Constitution was eligible), but they don;t detract much from the whole.



4. Our hero George Washington was able to achieve the key Revolutionary War battles with the incredible foresight, creativity, and persistence of his General, Henry Knox - a self taught man. He was with General Washington from the beginning in Boston, through the battles in NYC, engineered the crossing of the Potomac, and finally victory in Yorktown.
   
   George Washington said "There is no man whom I love more or have a stronger friendship."



5. Henry Knox was one of those men who lives in the shadows. He was, in his time, a memorable individual: a fat man with a booming voice and an ebullient personality, a wonderful friend with a hale-fellow-well-met personality. He was also one of the people more instrumental in the success of the Continental army during the American Revolution. So it's a bit surprising that other than the fort named after him, and the city in Tennessee, he's largely unknown. The author of this book, Mark Puls, aims to correct this.
   
   The author writes a short, concise, informative account of Knox's background and upbringing. One chapter suffices to get the reader to the beginning of the Revolution, though it should be pointed out that this isn't that long a period of time: Knox was in his 20s for much of the revolution, something that surprised me. I knew he was young, but not *that* young. Knox took charge of the artillery train that had to be moved from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, a distance of several hundred miles across very difficult terrain, and did it during early winter, often waiting for the frost to harden the mud on the roads. Knox then was appointed to command Washington's artillery, a position he held from that point until the end of the war.
   
   This means that for all of the major battles of the Revolution that Washington fought, Knox was there with him, directing the guns. He also served as an engineer and logistics chief, and on more than one occasion Washington entrusted the army's safety to Knox, assigning him to ensure the army's crossing of the Delaware to Trenton, for instance. By the end of the Revolution, when the French army joined with the Continental army to besiege the British at Yorktown, the French army's engineers and artillerists were pleasantly surprised to discover that Knox, a young man with no formal training as a soldier, was nonetheless very skilled and knowledgeable.
   
   Knox didn't really leave public service at the end of the war. Instead, he wound up succeeding Washington as commander-in-chief of the army, then served as Secretary at War for the Continental Congress during the period running up to the ratification of the Constitution. Knox supported the constitution, and advocated to Gouveneur Morris a government constructed rather like the one that emerged from the convention; Knox wrote his letter to Morris six months before Morris helped write the Constitution. Knox then served Washington as Secretary of War, among other things constructing the army and founding the modern American Navy, an action for which he usually isn't remembered. The Humphreys frigates ("Constitution", "United States", "President", "Constellation", etc.) were constructed at Knox's direction, though of course Humphreys himself gets the majority of the credit for the idea. These warships were large enough that they could defeat single British frigates in single combat, and fast enough they had a chance of outrunning any larger ships they encountered. Knox deserves some credit for their success, and for the founding of the Navy. He left Washington's cabinet several years before the end of the administration, serving in various capacities in the Massachusetts legislature and government before retiring from public life.
   
   But his signal achievement, probably, was his advocacy of the establishment of a military academy for soldier cadets. As early as the last years of the Revolution he argued that something along these lines be done, and he even established a school for army officers (especially artillerists) in his military camp. He pretty much tirelessly argued for the establishment of a permanent academy at West Point, and finally, after 25 years of advocacy, succeeded in 1803 when the United States Military Academy was established. Knox died three years later, a victim of a chicken bone that lodged in his throat, the wound becoming infected.
   
   The author does a good job of outlining Knox's life without getting into details too much. This is appropriate for a short biography of a soldier of the American Revolution. This book is very comparable to Terry Golway's biography of Nathaniel Greene, "Washington's General", which was released a few years ago, and was, to my mind, very successful. This is a highly recommended account of the life of a very interesting, and little-known, American soldier, and it belongs on the shelf of any military history buff who studies the American Revolution.

5 comments about Abigail Adams: A Revolutionary American Woman (Library of American Biography Series) (3rd Edition) (Library of American Biography).

1. Akers is limited by the series he is writing for so very little can be blamed on him, in fact he does a good job with what little he is allotted but his use of her first name throughout is not only taboo for historians but could also be considered sexist -- would you call Thomas Jefferson, "Tom" in a biography? Also, major figures in Adams' life have merely the depth of cardboard cutouts. Possibly suitable for the high school freshmen, probably not undergraduate and certainly not for the graduate level.



2. Akers does a great job of placing the information from Abigail's letters into a story, without directly quoting the letters line by line. A story is presented to the reader through the eyes of the First Lady. It was a required text for an American History class, though I did enjoy reading it. The story itself; however, can be deeply depressing while still communicating the accounts of the famous political family. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about the other side of politics.



3. I think everyone should know about this incredible woman and this biography is a good place to start. Everyone is always talking about (and writing about) the fathers of the country. What about the mothers of the country? Charles Akers does a good job of bringing Abagail alive.



4. While this was a quick read, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's bio was much, much better and far more interesting.



5. I was very pleased with the timing and condition of this book. I will look forward to shopping with you again. Sincerely Nontrad stu.

5 comments about President Lincoln: The Duty of a Statesman.

1. Wlliam Lee Miller's new book on US President Abraham Lincoln focuses entirely on the 1861-1865 period when Lincoln was chief executive and the nation suffered through a horrendous Civil War. Miller is an eloquent author and an expert on Lincoln. His book is a combination of narrative laced with a detailed study of several of the moral issues the Kentucky railsplitter faced in office. Among these Gordian Knot problems upon which Lincoln had to decide were:
   1. Whether to supply Fort Sumter by sea or allow the Charleston SC.fort to be surrendered to the new Confederate government without a shot being fired? Lincoln had promised to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution in his inaugural address on March 4, 1861. He believed the President of the United States should defend our territory so refused to give up on Sumter. The Confederates fired on the fort leading to a declaration of war with the United States. The Civil War would cost over
   600,000 lives-2/3 of them because of disease and insanitary conditions.
   2. Lincoln made the decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in Confederate controlled areas as of January 1, 1863. As a wily politician this act did not apply to slaves held in Union held but slave states. All African-Americans in bondage would be freed by the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution following the great emancipator's death
   by assassination on April 15, 1865.
   3. Miller cites several examples of Lincoln's mercy to soldiers convicted by court martial. He could be tough refusing to save the life of Nathaniel Gordon a slave ship owner and a man who shot a white officer leading a parade of black soldiers in Norfolk, Va. Lincoln was a kind and merciful man who was without hubris or self-glorification.
   4. Lincoln showed mercy to most of the Indians who had been involved in the war launched against white settlers in Minnesota in 1863.
   5. Lincoln was a great war leader getting rid of poor generals such as George McClellan and choosing fighters like Grant, Sherman and Sheridan to lead the north to victory. He favored a tolerant policy to the South following the war. Unfortunately he died before Reconstruction which proved to be harsh under Andrew Johnson.
   6. The Civil War, says Miller, was not total war as civilians were not targeted for death although their property was destoyed by armies. This especially occurred during Sherman's March to the Sea.
   7. Lincoln expressed the highest aspirations of republican government in his great speeches. He was in favor of the common person and had no tolerance for rulership by an aristocratic elite.
   Lincoln saw his purpose as President to be dominated by two major themes: 1. The preservation of the United States governed by the Constitution 2. The elimination of chattel slavery and the granting of citizenship to the four million Africa-Americans who lived in America. Lincoln was not a racist but a friend of blacks. He welcomed the black leader Frederick Douglass to the White House.
   William Lee Miller's book should be required reading in any course dealing with the American Civil War, Presidential Leadership or the life of Lincoln. This great and good man shows us that morality in high office can be practiced by a skillful politician.
   This books should be read in tandem with Miller's earlier book on Lincoln's virtues which takes our sixteenth president through his career up until election as President of the United States.
   A book to treasure!



2. First off , Miller writes well. Very well. The voice is conversational. And the insights flow: how Lincoln saw the war as a transcedent matter(after all the South withdrew from the union because they lost an election; no fundanmental rights were infringed;how can any republican government survive that?); the way Lincoln mixed mercy, strategically used, with a firmness to do anything(and anything covered a lot of ground for Lincoln) within his power to save the idea of a republican government; how he never let it be about him and his needs, but always about the greater needs of the cause he served( the writing on how he dealt with McClellan ,and the border states is superb; makes you wish our current politicans had more of the stuff of which Lincoln was made). A must read for anyone interested in the war and, more importantly, on what makes a great leader, political or otherwise.



3. Miller had an almost throwaway line about halfway through the book where he stated his opinion that Lincoln was the most intelligent president we've ever had, bar none -- not even Jefferson.
   
   And, by the time I got done, I came to the impression that this statement (with which I heartily agree) was the fulcrum of the whole book.
   
   Miller breaks Lincoln's Civil War activities down into easily reviewed and analyzed chunks, and in doing so, parses, pulls out, and displays Lincoln's intelligence undergoing presidential growth, meeting the challenges and rising to the occasion.
   
   A couple of other specifics. Miller does an excellent job of defending Lincoln against improperly revisionist historians' (there are properly revisionist historians) charges of racism or similar. Lincoln was moderatly left of center on racial enlightenment, in terms of his day and age, even before becoming president, and grew vastly after taking office. As for colonization ideas, Lincoln was not racist, nor was he alone in proposing colonization, nor was he alone in why he proposed it.
   
   Miller is not a hagiographer, though. He points out that Lincoln did have one notable weakness, indeed somewhat of a failing, in his administration -- Indian affairs. The 1862 Minnesota Sioux uprising and its aftermath are cited as evidence.
   
   That said, had Lincoln served a second term, free from the Civil War, although dealing with Reconstruction, I certainly agree with the implied idea of Miller that Lincoln would have exhibited the same degree of growth in Indian affairs as he did elsewhere.



4. William Lee Miller has continued (from Lincoln's Virtues which ends with the 1860 election) with his profound insight to show us the crises which Lincoln faced, the alternatives presented to him and the choices he made. Miller shows us the moral universe around Lincoln and how Lincoln fit into it and how Lincoln brought his own self understanding to it.
   
   There are implications for how Lincoln has shaped the America which followed him. You can argue this or that decision, (this is an objective, warts and all, in depth evaluation), but when the smoke clears, we are better people for Lincoln's leadership.
   
   Miller, makes clear the cruel nature of slavery, and counters those who would obfuscate its essential importance to the meaning of the civil war.
   
   Miller shows that the Bush Presidency, one which has publicly used Lincoln as its model for how to deal with its crisis, has missed the point and upended Lincoln's understanding of freedom and its relationship to the laws and customs of humanity. Our current crisis is to understand freedom for our day. It cannot be done in secret, nor with a population mis-led by slight of hand or even calculated lies.



5. Many of us have wondered through the years "what really made Abraham Lincoln such a great man?" Often we have read histories and biographies that have attempted to answer that question from any number of viewpoints, many of which are superficial and recitative at best. William Lee Miller has produced, I feel, the definitive work of revealing those character traits, moral underpinnings and intellectual methods that Lincoln not only possessed inherently, but actually labored to develop within himself throughout his truly inspired life. Miller has done this in such a way as to lead us step by step through his socratic method of establishing fact, precendent, context and conclusion. When I was finished with the book, I literally said to myself, "this is so clear now. Why haven't more historians been able to see this before?"
   
   Having read dozens of books and articles on President Lincoln by any number of historians/authors, this book I find to be the best, bar none, in outlining in clear terms and logical methods what made Abraham Lincoln so great - the fact that he was both an intellectual AND a moral giant at the same time.
   
   William Lee Miller continues to show his own intellectual and moral gifts with this hugely satisfying work. I already had a very high opinion of Abraham Lincoln before reading this book, but now I stand in awe of this "simple man from the prairie".

5 comments about The Civil War Diary Quilt: 121 Stories and The Quilt Blocks They Inspired.

1. This is a lovely book but not as good as i thought it would be. I have wanted it for over one year and now that I have it, realise I could live without it. The illustrations and overall appeal ie. colour, setout and feel are lacking. Not a really appealing book in my opinion. Overall it is a lack-lustre offering. Some good facts re: real life stories from the Civil War however.



2. I collect quilt history books and "The Civil War Diary Quilt" book is an excellent addition to my collection. The diairies are priceless pieces of our nation's history and I feel an emotional attachment to each one of the writers. The title of this book is misleading, however, because the main theme is not a quilt pattern, but the fantastic collection of diaries. Don't get this book if you want patterns - buy it for the wonderful history.



3. This was a very interesting book. I find this time in our history rich. The stories are compelling and touching. I have become interested in quilts of this era and have began to do some piecing that reflect this period I was very excited to find this book for its patterns as well as it rich historical content.



4. The thoughts and daily activities of several civil war era women both very young and very old of varring religious beliefs and backgrounds. This book is a nice read on a cold afternoon snuggling up on a couch or as a less time consuming interest book. I was personally surprised and delighted to hear of my old hometown mentioned within it;(Coldwater, Mi). Connections to your own past may be here and you may feel it is so to hear of one writer, a bridesmaid to General Custers wife or of a small child crying for her brother not to go off to war who was then lost, finding a link to her brother so many years later. Read how farmers' of many places were forced to take in soldiers first from one side, then from another to feed them and their animals and put them up for the night. (200 soldiers just popping in at dusk) and of their dangers they faced closer to Virginia that they were. Included in between the diary pages, seperating authors diary entry pages from each other are themed quilt pieces with instructions and templates on how to make them, including a doll dress design at the back.



5. This book is so gorgeous. Have inside many stories about the women and yours blocks while waiting yours husbands was in the civil war. Beautiful histories and the blocks of each, with colours . Very good.

No comments about King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop.

3 comments about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave & Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Modern Library MM).

1. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" (first published in 1845) and Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" (1861) are probably the two most powerful examples of the slave narrative. This literary form represents the first-person accounts of individuals who have lived as slaves. The Modern Library has paired these two essential American texts in a single edition, with an introduction by Kwame Anthony Appiah and commentaries by Jean Fagan Yellin and Margaret Fuller.

   Together, "Narrative" and "Incidents" offer a male and female perspective on the institution that has left lasting scars on America. These texts are well written, and rich in social and political insights. Both authors graphically illustrate, for example, how the Judeo-Christan Bible and the Christian church were used as tools to support the racist system of slavery. Douglass provides a powerful window into the importance of literacy as a tool by which he escaped a slave mentality. And Jacobs incisively deconstructs the twisted strands of race, gender, power, and sexuality that tied together slaveowning culture.

   "Narrative" and "Incidents" are compelling pieces of literature. Moreover, the authors' themes can be seen as foundational for many later works of United States literature: Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Toni Morrison's "Beloved," Octavia Butler's "Kindred," and many other texts. Even a popular film like "The Matrix" echoes the slave narratives in some aspects.

   Douglass and Jacobs are prime examples of writers who superbly combined literary craftsmanship with an intense political commitment. Their achievements make them crucial figures in the field of African-American studies. This combined edition of their outstanding books should be celebrated by teachers, students, reading groups, church study groups, and individual readers.




2. simply astounding! totally shatters those awful and ever-infectious civil war era romantic notions. be gone, "gone with the wind!" many thanks be to the spirits of mr. douglass and ms. jacobs for surviving their tremendous struggles to give us truth! recommend these books to others (especially the crowd that chooses to separate the "human stock" question from intellectual discussions of the civil war era).



3. These two books are sometimes very hard going, but essential reading for Americans. We probably tend to think about slavery very much in the abstract, when we even think about it, but these narratives make it painfully palpable and very human. In a way complementary to Akhil Reed Amar's brilliant description of the way slavery thoroughly corrupted the American political system (in his America's Constitution), these books reveal in detail the thoroughgoing and extraordinary moral perversion slaveholding caused in individual lives - to some extent those of slaves, but much more those of slave owners, poor southern whites, and complicit northerners. Of course we also see the brutality, horrors and deprivations of slave life.
   
   Douglass' narrative is better known than Jacobs.' Among many other things, how he taught himself to write is a remarkable story of shrewdness and determination against all odds. Jacobs' was an appalling life of virtually constant sexual harassment from an early age, which was undoubtedly a normal situation for many female slaves. What she went through to escape it is hard to imagine, and her single-minded determination to see her children free is incredible. The picture she gives of the distortions slavery caused in slaveholding families - lecherous men unconstrained by law or convention, angry and vengeful wives, gossip and whispering among white and black children and adults, children sold by their fathers to get the family features and relations out of sight and mind, and the increasing corruption of individuals' characters this caused over time - again, hard going but essential reading. A peculiar institution, ordained by God, good for the slave and slaveholder alike. Indeed.

5 comments about My Life and Hard Times (Perennial Classics).

1. Take your mind back half a century and read these mildly amusing essays about life in the 1920s and 1930s. The style is so different from modern prose, but it is well worth the read.



2. Thurber is a great favorite of mine, and this was another fun book to read.



3. Should be required reading for all folks of any age looking for an introduction to life in these United States, for those learning to overcome despair and disaster with humor and grace, for any and all learning the English language.



4. James Thurber was one of the funiest authors of all time and this book cements his reputation. I enjoyed it many years ago and after re-reading it, I enjoyed it again.



5. Thurber's classic about growing up in Columbus, Ohio is laugh out loud funny, even 80 years removed. Talent like this is rare. He deserves his literary reputation.

5 comments about The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism.

1. Megan Marshall has done superb work in this carefully researched account of the amazing Peabody sisters.



2. I only get to read on the train to and from work. This book makes my daily trip a real treat. I'm only half through, but hooked from page one. Not only does Marshall make a fascinating biographical and historical account of the Peabody sisters, but she provides answers as to why strong, ambitious, smart women have been so frustrated for so long. Society supressed gifted women in the 1800's so much so that women either became outcasts because they had to find expression, which in itself was restricted to motherhood, housewife or teacher, or they retreated into themselves in the form of illness or depression. Indeed, the contributions to romanticism by the Peabody sisters came at a very high cost to them. And now I can read about them and think "How strange that society was so close-minded back then!"



3. Somehow I overlooked this book when it was released, but thank goodness I discovered it later. The author takes readers back in time to share the amazing lives of these sisters. In the process, acquaintances of the Peabody family, that readers already know as historical figures, are brought to life as real, flawed but remarkable people. Readers will identify with these women as they strive to achieve and practice their own talents in a society that shares possibilities and limitations not so different from our own.



4. The Peabody Sisters is a wonderful book. It was so interesting and fast-paced, it reads like a novel. The women of the Transcendentalist Movement have been so poorly remembered it is possible to learn something new on every page. Megan Marshall's writing style is relaxed and conversational, a good balance to the 19th century melodrama, angst, sentimentality, and lofty philosophies of the sisters and their circle. Although Marshall quotes letters, sermons, poetry, reviews, journals, reports, and literature from many sources, it is done sparingly and logically integrated.
   
   The Peabody sisters were extraordinary women living in extraordinary times. A case can be made that Elizabeth Peabody, the oldest sister, is one of the most important figures in Transcendentalism. Barred from college and commerce by poverty and sex, she still managed to be more educated than many of the men she befriended and promoted. Many of the relationships we take for granted in Boston and Concord of the era can be directly linked to Elizabeth Peabody's tireless efforts to intellectually support interesting, creative individuals, make introductions, even find people jobs and students, housing, mentors - all while she is shut out and struggling to support her parents and five younger siblings while teaching herself Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish. Also: teaching children and adults, writing articles, editing and publishing, and keeping up a lively correspondence with teachers, philosophers, artists, poets of the era. Her sisters Sophia and Mary are hardly less accomplished.
   
   And yet Megan Marshall always keeps things grounded. The sisters are always real people who display very normal sibling rivalries manifested in jealousy, competition, ambition, despair, frustration and anger. There was also commitment, love, affection, support, delight and generosity.
   
   What is most amazing is the strength of the women in this group. They are creative, adaptable, intelligent, extraordinary in many ways. They are continually held back by the convention of the time that women were somehow frail and that ambition and accomplishment were unseemly in the "fairer sex." Considering what hothouse flowers many of the men in this group proved to be, it's all the more unreasonable that the inequality of the sexes persisted.
   
   Megan Marshall never harangues - the rant is purely my own. Marshall simply gives us the benefit of her prodigious research in the most straightforward and appealing manner. Don't be scared off by the length of the book: the last 100 pages or so are notes and index. The book itself speeds by and the reader is left at the point when the sisters are taking up their own separate lives.



5. The author attempts to run the three biographies in parallel but what really happens is that she jumps from one place to the other, so none of the biographies unfold properly. I found it utterly unreadable. On top of it to add to my frustration, there are generalities, like Elizabeth fought with her mother "like all adolescent girls do" or romantic creations "like on this day if you didn't watch out a dog might have showered you with water". I wanted to read a proper biography and not a society novel. I had read "Eden's Outcasts" by John Matteson before and came away with a more lively picture of Elizabeth Peabody and her involvment in the Temple School then from this book. If you are interested in the transcendentalist movement, the time, or women I highly recommend "Eden's Outcasts: The story of Louisa May Alcott and her father".

5 comments about Robert E. Lee on Leadership : Executive Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision.

1. Very well written. Lee's use of talent and limited resources reflect his brilliance as a leader.



2. Robert E. Lee is probably second only to Benjamin Franklin in terms of a famous American non-president around whom an almost larger than life mythology has formed.
   
   This book does an outstanding job of presenting Robert E. Lee as a leader and gives a tremendous amount of good information and insight that makes it well worth the read. In the end, however, the book falls prey to that mythology and goes beyond simply presenting Lee's leadership qualities and enters into defending Lee against some of the historical criticisms that have been debated among historians particularly where it comes to his handling of his army at Gettysburg and the relationship between himself and General Longstreet.
   
   It was inevitable that some of these elements had to be touched upon as this is afterall, a biographical and historical examination of Lee which then seeks to understand what it was about Lee that commanded such fervent devotion and seemingly enthusiatic willingness among impoverished and underequipped men. Certainly a great deal of it had to do with Lee's personal characteristics. However, a great deal of it had to do as well with Lee's being personified in the context of the cause they were fighting for and it is this element, in my opinion, that is understated by the author and as a result, the need to defend Lee personally against all criticism is elevated beyond what it needs to be.
   
   This is a non-technical book in the sense that it doesn't use the terminology that is becoming common parlance in the study of leadership. It it were, it would be clearly stated and shown, that Lee had both a servant-leader as well as a transformational leadership style. Also of importance would be a recognition of the context of the day and culture where the south heavily romanticized and idealized both the man and the cause to a degree that would be difficult to understand and relate to in the context of our experience, especially when it comes to political and military leaders.
   
   It should strongly appeal to military leaders today who no doubt long for the elements of such a leader in the context of today. There are some perhaps contemporary in the persons of Powell and Schwartzkopf but not to the national enshrinement that still surrounds Lee in the minds of many, even if they aren't as familiar with the history surrouding him. Business CEO's will resonate with a great deal of this as well and no doubt benefit from it.
   
   Read this entertaining book and enjoy the insights it offers, but keep in mind as well, that some of the elements presented are difficult to distinguish as purely leadership principles applicable for today and some tie to a larger than life figure who even in this book, tends to be presented in the context of the popular mythology that surrounds him than a purely objective understanding of the man himself.
   
   4 Stars.
   
   Bart Breen



3. Not at all a Marble Man, Robert E. Lee was a true leader. This book does him justice and puts his leadership skills and abilities into a modern context useful for anyone in a leadership role. It's much more a character study than a business book. The author clearly is a great fan of the great man.
   
   Business lessons are nicely extrapolated from both true historical events and how Lee handled adversaries in blue, adversaries on his staff, and adverse events in the field. Lee's brilliance at taking risks and making the most out of less is strongly shown-- especially in The Seven Days Battles and during Chancellorsville-- his finest hour.
   
   The author is particularly harsh on General Longstreet at Gettysburg, suggesting most strongly that Longstreet was insubordinate, disobedient to orders, and undermined Lee's strategies during that cataclysmic struggle. This is a very readable and approachable introduction to Lee for the modern reader and a pleasant review for students of the Civil War who don't mind Lee's lessons put into a more modern frame.
   
   While Lee is the great spirit of the "Lost Cause", his greatness or lack of it is not due to his victories or defeats, but rather on the very elegant and superb quality of his character. War often brings lesser men to the forefront of history and thrusts gargantuan tasks and responsibilities upon them. But it also gives superb men their moments-- often at great cost to themselves and others. Without Lee, one could make the argument that the Confederate cause would have failed long before it actually did.
   
   The idea that "the man and the hour have met", popular during the inauguration of Jefferson Davis, is far more appropriate for Lee and his elevation to command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee is certainly one of the great Americans with a character and demeanor from which we can still learn valuable lessons today. Ever the gentleman and man of kindness and forgiveness, Lee would turn a silent gaze on the failure of Stuart at Gettysburg and even forgive Longstreet. One might say that these were mistakes on Lee's part, but he had to work with what he had available to him and there were few commanders in Lee's opinion who could replace either man. Even those few independent thinkers such as Stonewall Jackson-- who could be trusted with independent action and great responsibility while fulfilling the wishes of the commander-- could fail as did Stonewall during the Seven Days fighting around Richmond. But Lee would give them other chances and they would do their utmost to regain the trust and respect of their Marse Robert. This is an excellent book and quite a treat, too!



4. Crocker the Third describes R.E. Lee as the second coming and then develops articulate reasons why the slaves should not have been freed by the cursed Union, who fought against God, the angels, and of course the blessed Lee. It then applies these lessons to personal growth and leadership. I could only read a bit in the beginning. Then I had to take a shower.



5. I am always a bit distrustful of books that claim to provide leadership lessons for business. In my opinion, leadership is a universal concept that transcends a particular setting and applying leadership lessons so narrowly always ends in somewhat stretched examples to fit the narrow definition. Better is the approach of conveying leadership skills for life or for character. The author rightly points out in his introduction that everybody plays a leadership at some time in their lives. That alone is reason enough to look for heroes we might emulate. And in that we find Robert E. Lee.
   
   The bottom line is, Lee was a great leader because he had a well-formed character. Mr. Crocker is wise to continually return us to that fact again and again in this work. Mr. Crocker is also wise to identify the primary role model in Lee's life - Jesus Christ. Lee's deep abiding faith was the furnace that forged the human epitome of a servant leader. Servant leadership is probably the most antithetical form of leadership to the business world. Mr. Crocker recognizes that as well and perhaps that is why he attempts to force the issue in order to prove the point against the tide of conventional thinking. But even with those stretched points, Mr. Crocker conveys the importance of servant leadership in everyday life. A good leader is not simply the person identified to play the role of leader - a good leader is one who has earned the respect required to lead and who inspires others to follow.
   
   Short of the New Testament, you will not find a more perfect example of servant leadership of this type than you find in Robert E. Lee. Mr. Crocker has chosen his example well and correctly applied the lessons to a life of character. Leaders of all persuasions, and not just business, will find leadership personified in these pages.

5 comments about Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol. 1: 1884-1933.

1. This nonsensical bio is written entirely from a blind feminist perspective. The research is suspect. The prose amateurish. The details gossipy and contrived. If Eleanor Roosevelt was truly a woman of thought and progressivism, then Cook has done her an unforgivable disservice. If you're looking to understand Roosevelt's honest-to-goodness place in history, you will not find it is this intellectually offensive work.



2. I found both volumes of Ms. Cook's books fascinating. I could not wait to return to them. I learned a lot about Eleanor and the time in which she lived. I will buy copies of both for all my children and suggest that my grands read them as well.



3. Readers disappointed with the lack of analysis in this book are looking for another animal -- a more supple, lovelier, livlier, or more analytic one. This is a narrative mammoth, wherein Cook revives ER through dense documentary detail. I especially enjoyed the detail about her upbringing, her families, and influential relatives. With all of the details woven into this chronicle, it'd just get convoluted to add more flourish, conjecture, and analysis. I would not like to see details cut for the sake of these.
   
   The notable exception is Cook's willingness to speculate about the amorous nature of ER's friendships. Even here, she cites documentation, and chronicles what has been destroyed, gone missing, and where interview questions were refused. Cook is forthright about her motivation to venture out further here in order to counter popular conjecture about ER as sexually frigid.
   
   Cook has provided groundwork for any number of less academic biographies.
   I too would love to see other kinds of biographies of ER, other than narrative: a philosophic biography analyzing the significance of her actions in her time; a descriptive biography of her character or biopic film.
   
   For a lovelier portrait of her perspective and character, read her own works or The Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt. For broader context and significance, there really isn't enough, but try Kearns-Goodwin.
   
   For details, chronology, and narrative, read both volumes of this. I'd love to see a biopic made out of it.



4. For many Americans, Eleanor Roosevelt is more a myth than an actual person. In the Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. there is a whole floor devoted to American presidents, but just a small wing devoted to our First Ladies, or more specifically their inaugural gowns. While visiting the museum, I picked up a poster of Eleanor Roosevelt, with a nice quote that reads something like, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." Other than my poster, the only thing I knew about Eleanor Roosevelt was what my grandmother, who grew up during the Depression and Roosevelt years, had told me: "She sure was ugly." When Eleanor Roosevelt's letters to Lorena Hickok were revealed to the public in 1978, and questions about the true nature of their relationship arose, author Blanche Wiesen Cook, a historian and women's studies professor, was intrigued to answer the challenge of determining who Eleanor Roosevelt really was. In her book, "Eleanor Roosevelt: Volume One, 1884-1933," Cook promises to give readers a fuller view of Eleanor Roosevelt - not just the mythic character, but the actual story behind the woman, an independent power in her own right.
   
   "Eleanor Roosevelt: Volume One, 1884-1933" is, in essence, a feminist reading of the life and times of Eleanor Roosevelt, telling her story chronologically up to 1933, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt becomes President of the United States. Eleanor Roosevelt's childhood, as would be expected, is crucial to understanding her identity. Although she grows up in a privileged family in New York - her uncle Theodore is President of the United States - her childhood is "filled with disappointment, alcoholism, and betrayal." Eleanor Roosevelt's mother casts Eleanor aside as ugly and too serious. Although her father is an alcoholic, Eleanor adores him, as he encourages her to be courageous and bold and wants her to be self-reliant and self-fulfilled. Both of her parents die before she turns 11, leaving Eleanor to be raised by relatives who mostly conform to the ideals in place during the 1890s. It is not until she is sent to Marie Souvestre's school in Europe that she is first "given permission to be herself." Marie Souvestre is an unconventional feminist and her school is unusual in that it encourages girls to be independent at a time when education is considered to be dangerous to a woman's mental health. Marie Souvestre's role in Eleanor's life is second only to her father's, as Marie Souvestre appreciates Eleanor's talents and encourages her to discover and develop her capabilities.
   
   Upon graduation, though, Eleanor Roosevelt faces the realities of her time, as she is torn between the new self-sufficient world she has discovered through her schooling in Europe and the traditions of her mothers and relatives in New York. Ultimately, Eleanor Roosevelt accepts her prescribed role as a woman, goes courting, and secretly becomes engaged to her cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to the chagrin of his possessive mother Sara. Eleanor becomes increasingly dependent on Franklin, feeling "absolutely lost" when he is away. After they are married, Eleanor is forced to move in to his family home with his mother; as a result, she is never able to have her own home and instead relies on her mother-in-law for everything, as she essentially runs their lives and is the loudest voice in raising their children, leaving Eleanor without a role in her own family and without "self-confidence and ability to look after [herself]." Whereas, to be loved by Marie Souvestre had "meant to display an independent spirit with individual flavor, and a playful imagination," to be loved by Sara "meant to become fully like Sara." It is here that Eleanor loses her identity, mimicking Sara's views, including "flip, class-bound arrogance and egregious racism."
   
   It is not until 1918, when the "bottom drops out" of Eleanor Roosevelt's world, that she reflects on her life and determines what she wants of it. While previously Eleanor has had a romantic view of her marriage, upon discovering Franklin's letters from his mistress, Lucy Mercer, Eleanor Roosevelt becomes dejected and depressed and develops what the author characterizes as anorexia. After a period of reflection and introspection, ultimately she resolves to design herself an "independent life" that serves to meet her own needs and reclaim her separate identity. After 1923, Eleanor and Franklin live essentially separate lives, as Eleanor accepts Missy LeHand's role as his "second wife" and develops her own separate circle of friends separate from his. While Franklin works toward rehabilitating his legs after developing polio, Eleanor works on her own career and becomes a national figure in her own right, including an important role as an educator, owning and teaching at a progressive school called Todhouse, and encouraging a new generation of female students just as she had been encouraged by Marie Souvestre. Finally, Eleanor seems to complete her personal journey as a woman through her romantic relationships with Earl Miller, her bodyguard, and Lorena Hickok, an esteemed reporter from the Associated Press, who both champion Eleanor Roosevelt and promote her best interests, giving her personal fulfillment. Through these relationships, she is no longer alone, but has the support system she will need to face her next big challenge - the White House.
   
   In telling the arc of Eleanor Roosevelt's journey to becoming an independent woman, "Eleanor Roosevelt, Vol. 1" is what it claims to be - a life and times of Eleanor Roosevelt through 1933. Although the writing style is dry and the book starts off slowly, it ultimately succeeds in explaining who Eleanor Roosevelt was - her struggles to find her own identify and to put herself in a position of power where she doesn't need her husband to define her own self-worth. But because the book ends at 1933, we learn more about who Eleanor Roosevelt is and less about why she is such an important historical figure. Also, because this book is necessarily about Eleanor as an independent person, she emerges as a fully-fleshed three-dimensional figure, while Franklin comes off as a flat, ordinary, two-dimensional character. As a result, the book sparks even more questions than it answers. Why did Eleanor marry Franklin? What was the true nature of their partnership? What were her greatest accomplishments? And why should we care about Eleanor Roosevelt? While I had not originally planned to, I now intend to read "Eleanor Roosevelt: The Defining Years, Volume 2" by the same author, as well as "F.D.R." by Jean Edward Smith and "No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin to help answer these additional questions and learn not just about who Eleanor Roosevelt was, but why she mattered.



5. I happened across Vol. 2 of this biography and procrastinated on actually reading it for several months--it is a LARGE volume and I was kind of put off at the seemingly enormous task of reading the tome. Once I started reading, I stayed with it. The book is well written and I found Eleanor to be a most intriguing figure. Something that kept me interested was the similarity between the issues in the United States in Eleanor's day and the issues currently. I found myself wishing everyone would read the biography, as a kind of refresher course in history. Maybe our country's leaders could be more effective in leading our nation away from economic disaster and loss of a middle class if they were reminded of what happened in the first half of the 20th century. Volume 2 of the biography made such an impact on my thinking, I felt compelled to locate Volume 1. I have not finished reading it yet, but so far, it has not disappointed. Blanche Wiesen Cook is a thorough and skilled researcher and an excellent writer. One should not be put off at the size of the two volumes--Reading these two volumes of Eleanor Roosevelt's life is very much worth the effort!