No comments about The Sixth Corps: the Army of the Potomac, Union Army, During the American Civil War.

5 comments about Grant and Lee: A Study in Personality and Generalship.

1. This is a small book, but don't judge it by its size. It is a great little book. Grant & Lee, with such different backgrounds, lead two great armies in the strangest of times. In the end, with no grudge, the two men get to know and respect each other. But the story of how these men fought & how they thought so similarly in the battlefield and how they were both so noble and courageous help show that two men that could not have been more dissimilar, ended up being so alike serving their causes. I highly recommend this book. Very entertaining, and very educational.



2. If you read the introduction to this book, you will understand that Fuller has set out to write a brief but direct book on the Generalship capabilities of Grant and Lee. In the introduction, Fuller notes that Henderson's classic book on Jackson is more a romantic study than one that is an objective view. He goes further to say that a full study of Jackson gives a different appreciation. A respect for his maneuvering and desire to fight but also his idiosyncrasies and secrecy that Fuller indicates would cause one to question Jackson's sanity. With that introduction, you are prepared for the author's blunt assessment of both Generals. The book is brief concentrating more on strategy than just battlefield tactics. He concentrates on the critical battles of the war and the general effect the war has as a whole not just the eastern theater. In Lee, he notes that he was not a grand strategist but one that fought with intuition. As a General, he excelled on fighting on the defensive as showed in the final campaign. However, Lee preferred fighting aggressively and his errors show at Gettysburg and Malvern Hill. In the case of Chancellorsville, Fuller notes that Lee should have used the wilderness more often as a greater asset for defensive maneuvers instead of coming out in the open into battle. That like a spider, he should have waited for opportunities to attack and withdrawal with the protection of cover. He further indicates that Lee had a poor operating staff and his administration impaired supply and clarity of orders as all were given verbally and minimally. Grant on the other hand was a former quartermaster, was well organized and had a global plan of the war hence his simultaneous operations with the western theater and his multiple prong attacks in the east. Fuller notes that at first his objective was to follow Lee and not concentrate on the Richmond. But later he changed to maneuver so that Lee had to react to him as opposed to the reverse. Grant was often accused of having little imagination but as Fuller notes, he did not have the imagination to inflate numbers that were against him (McClellan) but he was rational in knowing that the Confederates had limited manpower. Through his intuition, Lee had success against the earlier Union generals but as Fuller points out, he could not fathom Grant.
   
   The book is critical of both; however, as an overall commander, Grant comes across as much more able and Lee a totally different commander highly capable on the defensive but not as much a hands on commander as most would previously think. Both men are stripped bare; the author offers a unique unbiased view of the war without the human frailty of sentiment.



3. Whatever your view of Robert E. Lee and U.S. Grant, Fuller's book will challenge you to think long and hard about your beliefs concerning both generals.
   
   As a Southerner, I have to admit that Fuller makes a compelling case for Grant being the better general between the two. One instance is where he confronts the idea that Grant was a butcher because of the heavy casualties during the Wilderness-Spotsylvania Campaign. While Grant indeed suffered the heavier losses, the percentage of losses was acutally lower than Lee. In fact, this was a common occurence in many battles in which Grant commanded.
   
   The book's contents are as follows:
   
   1. The Two Causes - the two nations, presidents, armies and other North/South factors both generals had to operate within.
   2. The Personality of Grant - modesty, common sense, courage.
   3. The Personality of Lee - humility, tact, audacity.
   4. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1861-1862 - description of the battles fought by both generals during both years (Shiloh, Fort Donelson, Antietam, Fredericksburg, etc).
   5. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1863 - Vicksburg, Gettsyburg, Chattanooga, Chancellorsville.
   6. The Generalship of Grant and Lee, 1864-1864 - Spotsylvania, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appamattox.
   7. The Two Generals - comparison and contrast between their two styles and personalities.
   
   One other interesting point mentioned by Fuller was perhaps making the Confederate capital in Atlanta instead of Richmond. I have often thought how such a move would have affected the fighting in Virginia, Georgia, and my home state of North Carolina. Something interesting to ponder!
   
   I highly recommend the book. Read and enjoy.



4. Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, published in 1932, compares quite favorably in its detailed research and readability with works by modern writers and historians like Shelby Foote, James M. McPherson, Gary W. Gallagher, and Stephen W. Sears. This work by Major General J. F. C. Fuller is notable for directly challenging the conventional wisdom that Grant was little more than a "butcher" and that his eventual success was almost entirely due to the North's larger population and more abundant resources. In Fuller's view Grant was not only the greatest general of the Civil War, but ranks among the greatest strategists of any age. Fuller generated even more controversy with his contention that Robert E. Lee in several respects had major failings as a military leader.
   
   Controversial or not, Major General J. F. C. Fuller was no ordinary soldier writing about the Civil War. Fuller was a highly respected British military strategist and noted author. In the 1920s he collaborated with B. H. Liddell Hart in developing new ideas for the mechanization of armies. Ironically, their recommendations were more readily adopted in Germany than in Britain, France, or the U.S.
   
   Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is a relatively short book, around 300 pages. Fuller writes with clarity and precision. He makes careful use of firsthand accounts; he paid particular attention to opinions of staff officers, as men in these roles were likely to have gained greater insight into the personalities of Grant and Lee. He also utilized the opinions of foreign witnesses of the war, like Colonel Fremantle, as a check on insiders' observations. His sources were identified through extensive end notes as he realized that his findings would be controversial. He includes statistics on battle losses to illustrate that the persistent belief that Grant's losses were abnormally high is simply a myth, and that Lee's percentage losses were actually higher.
   
   There are many exceptionally good books on the Civil War, but there are few that are as readable as Fuller's Grant and Lee, and offer such a fresh viewpoint (albeit, now nearly 75 years old, but one that remains stimulating and thought provoking). Grant and Lee, A Study in Personality and Generalship, is available in a reprint edition (1982) by Indiana University Press. Five stars.



5. There are so many books on this subject that it's easy to start a fight from any point of view. Fuller is writing from across the Atlantic, and I believe that has given him a perspective that makes for a clear study of the two men. Fuller makes good use of Freemantle's observations from the latter's time in the Confederacy, extending observations into well reasoned analysis. This one is worth reading.

No comments about Wealth and Wisdom: The Way to Wealth and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Two Timeless American Classics That Still Speak to Us Today.

5 comments about Berry Benson's Civil War Book: Memoirs of a Confederate Scout and Sharpshooter.

1. Berry Benson tells it as it was. He does not fill the pages with fluff, but merely gives a straightforward account of his trials and tribulations during the war. At first, I was skeptical about all that he claimed to have gone through, but after some research, his story holds true. Benson was just shy of 18 when he joined the Confederate army. During his service, he was a sharpshooter, fought under Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, was captured and escaped TWICE: once from Point Lookout and once from Elmira. At times, I wished that he would have gone into more detail, and that is the only downfall of this book. For example: he goes into some description of Point Lookout yet fails to give a good picture of Elmira. However, his story is not one to miss and I suggest it for anyone wanting to read a more personal account of the war that is a little out of the ordinary.



2. Not many books seem to cover a scout's exploits during the Civil War in the form of a personal memoir. Berry Benson's account seems to be a diary mixed with recollection and struggle. Benson's writing is vague at times and a bit hard to follow. He seems to jump from event or time frame without much flow or detail. His involvement at Sharpsburg, Chancelorsville and Petersburg is disappointing when it comes to detail and the action. Had an author placed this book together to build the time frame up and then switch to Benson's accounts would have made this book easier to follow or had Benson been more descriptive in his story it would have completed this book.

   What made this book interesting was his escapes from two Union prisons and his personal struggle to survive and get back to Virginia. His descriptions of his escapes and his run for freedom was very interesting and made this book come to life.

   The title itself which mentions sharpshooter fails to live up to it's name as very little is written about his involvement as one and again the detail is missing. Had the title mentioned escaping twice from Union hands, it would have been properly titled. Though the lack of details and vague approach stumbles the reader an opposite read is featured in regards to his survival and escaping Union control. Without his prison stories which fortunately takes up a large portion of this book, it would have been confusing and frustrating. Because of those stories I felt this book deserves a 4 star rating.




3. From the point of view of the enlisted man, this is a really good book. It held my interest well. Let's face it, the enlisted man's perspective of the War Between the States, or any war for that matter, is going to be very narrow. The rank and file do not have the luxury of having access to the grand strategy of general officers. All they can relate is what went on in front of them. Otherwise it wouldn't be their story. This book is about what one common soldier saw, experienced, and felt. And it let me see a refreshing point of view.



4. THIS BOOK TELLS IT LIKE IT WAS!!!!!! ANYONE WHO HAS A RELATIVE WHO FOUGHT FOR McGOWAN'S BRIGADE OR HAD RELATIVES AT THE UNION HELLHOLE, ELMIRA, WILL GREATLY ENJOY THIS BOOK.
   GARY, B/GENERAL SAMUEL McGOWAN, CAMP #40, SCV



5. BERRY BENSON'S CIVIL WAR BOOK: MEMOIRS OF A CONFEDERATE SCOUT AND SHARPSHOOTER appears in a new paperback edition and tells of one sharpshooter Berry Benson, who saw most of the action between the first shot fired in the Civil War and the surrender of Lee's army. His account of his soldier's life and battlefield experiences brings to live the Civil War's history and politics and makes it a powerful pick for any library strong in Civil War memoirs and first-hand accounts.

No comments about Martin Luther King Jr. (People Who Made History).

No comments about Millard Fillmore - The Accidental President (Biography).

No comments about Helen Keller, Public Speaker: Sightless But Seen, Deaf But Heard (Great American Orators).

1 comments about Touched With Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Olivier Wendell Holmes (The North's Civil War, 12).

1. I have been a fan of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. for many years. As of the time of this posting (3/07), Amazon has the biography of his FATHER as the author. OWH, Senior was an important American doctor and man of letters. His SON, the author of these letters, was a civil war veteran, twice wounded, who went on to become possibly the greatest of all American lawyers and judges.

5 comments about Mae West: An Icon in Black and White.

1. Amazon customers' reviews of this book are as fascinating as the book itself. I'm amazed at how many people appear unable to understand what they read. Contrary to several reviewers' indignant claims, Jill Watts does *not* argue that Mae West was part black. Her meticulously-researched book carefully separates speculation from fact, and she states early and clearly that there is simply not enough information to settle the question of West's racial background. She then asserts that it doesn't matter whether West did or did not have African-American ancestry. What *does* matter is how West handled issues of racial identity in her writing and in her personal and professional performances. Watts' analysis reveals a woman who was, for her time, a strong champion of African-Americans and who was also deeply ambivalent about racial roles and identities. This book is more than a biography; it is also study of the social constructions of race, class, and gender in general and of the persona of "Mae West" in particular.
   
   I suspect that the readers who are so outraged at the idea that West may have been part-black find issues of race personally disturbing. (As one reviewer asked, why does it matter so intensely to some people that Mae be all-white?) The dismissive readers probably also came to the book expecting a standard Hollywood-style star story rather than an academic analysis. Perhaps because the book took a different approach than they expected, they didn't read very carefully.
   
   In terms of the text itself, it has the strengths I've already noted: it's carefully researched, thoughtful, and does a great deal more than simply detail a star's life. However, in exploring her thesis, Watts is often repetitive and is sometimes guilty of trying far too hard to make her case. Also, because she wants to portray West as a positive force in subverting traditional definitions of gender and class, Watts often downplays or excuses West's sometimes demanding, hurtful, temperamental behavior. It would have been more intellectually honest to acknowledge West's flaws more fully.
   
   Overall, an informative, interesting book.



2. When you tell the truth, people will be angry. Yes it is true that there is no real proof about Mae West, but I have had people insist that I had caucasian blood in my family tree. I look in the mirror from time to time and wonder why this was but I am now starting to see it to a degree. It is not that this or that person have this or that blood, but the truth is that we are made of one blood. That is the unique thing about the human race.
   
   I hope that this book becomes a #one saler to help people understand the genome project. I did not purchase this book to read about Mae West's genetic make-up, but to learn more about her fantastic mystical style!
   
   There is one thing that bothers me. Her movies tend to show racial inequalities. But this is the characteristic of 30's movies.



3. In her biography of Mae West, "An Icon in Black And White, Ms Watts makes a valiant attempt to connect West's appropriation of African American idioms to her possible black roots. While Ms Watts may be on shaky ground, there is no disputing the fact that Mae West borrowed liberally from Black culture in creating her unique persona.
   West's personal life mirrored her respect for African Americans and she evidently enjoyed the company of people from a broad range of cultural and sexual backgrounds as friends and associates. Unfortunately, Ms Watts examination of West often comes across as a university text book, which it appears to be.
   During the past ten years, I have been researching a ribald biography on the 'stimulatin' but nevah irritatin'' Miss West entitled SAINT MAE: OUR LADY OF HIPS & QUIPS, and I am presently seeking a publisher. While extensively interviewing the men involved in her life, a previously hidden side of Mae's personality is unmasked and she comes alive through their stories. Her tough vixen image was considerably softened in the company of the friends she held in high esteem. Surprisingly, Miss West was more comfortable socializing with colorful, offbeat characters than the Hollywood crowd.
   Ms Watts' examination of Mae West proves to be an entertaining read. One thought to ponder, although Mae West once appeared on the vaudeville stage as a man, she was sensitive enough never to appear in blackface and undo the behind the scene assistance she gave her fellow African American coharts.



4. The book itself is tediously written, as others have stated already, but the politically correct issue of "did she have negro blood" backfires. It's incredibly racist to assume that a white woman could not be sexual in an earthy way and love rhythm & blues unless she had negro blood. That falls under the category of "all blacks are good dancers" and "all whites are uptight" and other such nonsense. The argument of "What's so wrong if she's a little black?" can easily be countered with "What's so wrong if she's all white?" Mae West did not fit the stereotype of a white woman of her era, so people are trying to find some small trace of "something" which can justify cramming her into a comfortable stereotype. She was sensual and bawdy, well then, she must be black because God Forbid a genuine white woman behave that way. She made people uncomfortable back then and she's making people uncomfortable now. Mae West is an original and she's still stirring up controversy, which I'm sure she'd be delighted about. But if you want a good book about her, read Simon Louvish's book instead.



5. First, two responses to several reviews...
   
   1 - The reviewers who suggest that this book is all about proving that West was black have simply not read the book. Watts introduces the book with that rumor (and the rumor that she was a man)...and then MOVES ON. She's off that subject by the middle of the second page.
   
   2 - This is an academic book, written by a history professor. It is not a fan-oriented biography about West. If you want a quick and easy read, this is NOT the book for you. Watts' writing style makes the book accessible to people who aren't scholars, but if you aren't comfortable with footnotes or references to literary and cultural theory, you may want to choose a different book.
   
   On to my own review:
   
   This is an impressive piece of scholarship. The amount of archival research done for this project is impressive. Watts does a fine job of showing how West's work and image were very much shaped by working-class, black, gay, and feminist ideals and cultural forms. What we want to see as wholly her self-creation (including her trademark line "Come up and see me sometime!") was absolutely informed by what she saw around her.
   
   My only criticism (and hence, the 4 stars) is that I think Watts' analysis of West's appropriation of black culture is too generous. Watts does a grand job of talking about white performers who didn't think much about their consumption and those who just plain 'stole.' However, Watts works really hard to show that West was not one of them; I'm not so sure.

4 comments about Warren Buffett:: Master of the Market.

1. This book does not reveal anything new about WEB



2. I have read every book regarding Warren Buffett and in my opinion this one is by far the worst. I would urge readers to spend their money on other Buffett books. Any of the other ones would be better than this one.

   This one simply regurgitates everything already written about the man and it's not even done with originality.




3. I am just getting into Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway stock. If you are looking for a quick easy read on the history of Warren Buffett and his company, this book would fill that need. This book covered the Buffett history and explained how the "Baby Berkshires" came about. I am sure there are other books that go into more detail, but this book will be a good book to start with.



4. Review: At first glance, one would think that this is primarily a book on how to invest using the principles of Warren Buffett. Very much the contrary, this book is actually a narration of the life of Warren, from his days as a child (where he worked part-time as a paper boy) up to describing all his major acquisitions. Sixteen chapters of the book are devoted to this; the remaining one chapter of the book summarises the nine principles of investing.
   
   It is interesting to read about how Warren grows up and his major investment successes. The final chapter would also serve as a very good checklist:
   
   1) Know the numbers and what they mean.
   2) Invest in products you understand.
   3) Read widely to value prospects.
   4) Always maintain a margin of safety.
   5) Become a fanatic about investments.
   6) Avoid buying "popular" stocks.
   7) The secret of compound interest.
   8) Know when to invest.
   9) Never run with the street pack.
   
   Certainly, when deciding what stock to purchase, each and every stock should be torn apart and analysed just as one would do when buying/starting any business. And what others feel that a particular stock is worth should not affect our own evaluation of the business prospects. It is the presence of such mismatch in pricing that allows investors like Warren to achieve their extraordinary returns.
   
   Recommendations: This book would be suitable for people who know a little of Warren Buffett and would like to know more about him without going into too much details. For die-hard fans that had already read his annual newsletters to his Berkshire shareholders, they probably wouldn't learn anything new here.