5 comments about Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?.

1. Have you ever read a book that you had to struggle to get through, yet you were still glad you read it? That is my feeling about this book. I found the book boring, tedious to read at times and a bit more technical than what I'm used to. Nevertheless, I could not get past the fact that Reginald Lewis and all that he accomplished after starting with nothing was an incredibly inspirational story that needed to be told. His drive and inability to accept "no" are something that we can all learn from and appreciate, but the writing in the book just didn't hold my attention.



2. what a man! talk about inspirational. 3rd time i've read this and it makes me feel like i can conquer the world. this book gives me so much confidence and raises my self-esteem to new levels. just an awesome book about an incredible man.



3. This work tells the story of a black man who rose to become a top CEO.
   
   Author BLAIR S. WALKER, discusses the chronicle of his subject's private life based on dozens of interviews and also consulting many sources and borrowing on an unfinished autobiography Reginald Lewis wrote shortly before his death from brain cancer in order to give a full and accurate account of this intense, goal-oriented man's life.
   
   If motivation and inspiration is what you seek, you will find it in various chapters throughout the book. Power packed with valuable business lessons on deal making and negotiations, this book has the ability to cultivate your mind set in many a positive ways.
   
   Lewis was a tough- minded narcissistic individual. He was a man set on being an exception to life's ugly stereotypes towards African Americans.
   
   Although the book does fall short in not talking about the deaths of two keystone figures in Lewis's life which was his grand pop and grand mom who were considered some of his greatest strength as a boy.
   
   Lewis and his two LBO's became a greater success than the famous "burning bed" blunder by the former First Boston Corp..
   
   Overall, you will find this book an entertaining read.



4. I was blown away by this book, more so for the similarities between Lewis and myself. I think he was proud of being black but I agree with him that its only an aspect of who you are. Americans as a whole, whether they are black and white tend to group successful blacks as some sort of exception, which is a done and TIRED story. Reginald is a man's man that did things his way successfully. Too bad his life was cut short no telling where he might of been and how much more successful he would have become.
   
   For readers its a look at an intense, fearless, determined, and extremely ambitious man who just happened to be African-American.



5. The Lewis and Walker edition of 'Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?' is one of the most well-researched and written books that exist from a partial business autobiography/biography standpoint. When you read (and study) this book you feel as if you know Reginald Lewis (Reg) personally. You felt that you have sat at the same table, in the same room, with the same true characters that made him the man that he was.
   
   Reginald Lewis was no saint. But, he was driven by passion and a determination to be the best. Walker (the co-author) has created many things within the context of this book: A bio, a blueprint, an academic view of business, a detailed account (diary) of a very accomplished man. But most importantly, Walker and Lewis together have created a great story. It's more than just mere inspiration, it's a book that when you're done, you will want to make Reg a member of your advisory counsel (the kind that motivates and drives you when their physical presence is no longer here). Reg is now a part of my advisory counsel - and he's given me good advice. Read this book regardless of your ethnic background because it truly drives home a point: We can all have fun!

1 comments about The Charles Kuralt Collection: Charles Kuralt's America a Life on the Road.

1. I enjoyed listening to this audiocassette. I find that the journalist's job is one of the most intriguing. Kuralt explains one of his early first assignments in the beginning of the book, and works up to some of his favorite stories that he had covered during his stint with CBS.

   Although this book may not be as exciting as watching it on video, his biography is one that shouldn't be missed if you are interested in the field of journalism & writing.

5 comments about Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters.

1. Reading Major Dick Winters' memoirs after first watching the mini-series and reading Stephen Ambrose's - BAND OF BROTHERS, provided a clearer sense of actual facts of the most significant event in war history. I felt like I knew Major Winters and found myself saying to myself as I was reading, "give the job to me, I'll do it!!!" Very inspiring; profound sense of gratitude, and understanding why these citizen soldiers followed the CO of Easy Company into war to free the world of tyranny.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reading Winters' account after reading Band of Brothers offered unique insights. I was heartened by Major Winters' faith and how he used this to make it through the War. Stationed in Germany, I had the opportunity to make a voyage to the memorial & Peace Gardens in Bastogne and to Foy as well; a trip inspired by Major Winters. To him & to all others who served in WWII, what you did for the world is not forgotten & will forever be appreciated.



3. A wonderful companion to the HBO "Band of Brothers" miniseries. The book fills in some gaps and details to give you a more complete picture of Easy Company's trek through the war in Europe. Highly recommended!



4. The moral character of Maj. Winters is impecable and unimpeachable. His book is one every kid in school chould read to learn what it is to stand fast in the face of fear and the enemy wether foreign or domestic. This is important now because we may be facing a time when we must once again face a enemy that is domestic. I would hope we would have leadership similar to that given by Maj. Winers.



5. I am hooked on the mini-series and can almost quote the dialogue. This book fills in a lot of the the missing parts and solidifies a lot of the truths of the film. A well written and very good reading book that is filled with facts and great memories. Probably should be read after seeing the series.

5 comments about Blue Highways.

1. A little over twenty-five years ago William Trogden, who took the name of his Native American ancestors and called himself William Least Heat Moon, set out on a journey across America in what was basically the ancestor of the modern SUV, a small truck which he named Ghost Dancing.
   
   Initially he did this because he had lost his job and his wife in the space of a month, but his journey turned into much more than just an attempt to forget. It became a classic search for and journey into the heart of the country.
   
   This is not a trip into the weirdness of America, although Least Heat Moon encounters plenty of strange sites and people on his journey. It is more of a trip into the heart and soul of the country - figuratively as well as literally. There have been many books written over the years about people leaving home to find America, but even after twenty-five years this is still one of the best such books ever written.
   
   My only complaint is that he quotes Walt Whitman a little too much. I can understand his references to Black Elk, given his background and ancestry, but his overuse of Whitman is a bit jarring at times. But if you work around the Whitman quotes you will love your journey across America's blue highways with William Least Heat Moon.



2. Took a tour of America with a chip on his shoulder. Guess it gives you a different perspective.



3. I have written many reviews for Amazon.com. Blue Highways is the only book to which I've given five stars. I would recommend it to anyone.
   
   Blue Highways is William Least Heat-Moon's account of his 1978 low-budget car ride across America. Heat-Moon's reporting reminds me a lot of Charles Kuralt's On the Road reports for CBS News. Heat-Moon has a talent for engaging strangers on the road and bringing out the best in them.
   
   What separates Blue Highways from so many other travel books? There are a variety of factors. Heat-Moon is a good writer. He understands pacing - and does not allow the story to bog down. He is, overwhelmingly, positive about the people and places that he encounters. Heat-Moon took pictures of many of the people he met and I think that those pictures add much to the book.
   
   More so than the above factors, however, I think that Heat-Moon's philsophical bent adds a lot to the book. Blue Highways is not just an account of a trip; in meeting these people and engaging them, Heat-Moon wants to help answer some of the big questions about why we are here and what it means to live a good life. While no one can answer those questions once and for all, Heat-Moon provides some great food for thought.
   
   As several reviewers have pointed out, Heat-Moon's 1978 descriptions of the USA are now poignant due to the changes in our society. Sadly, many of the older people he encountered must now be dead. Many of Heat-Moon's other observations are just as valid today as they were in 1978. Specifically, he laments the increasingly-homogeneous American culture, materialism, careerism, and many other problems.
   
   I first read Blue Highways in 1993. I reread it this summer (2008). It lost nothing on the second reading. If you like travel writing and are at all philosophical, this book will "speak" to you on so many different levels. Don't pass this one up; it's that rare, wonderful book that makes reading all of the mediocre books worthwhile.



4. I bought this book over 25 years ago. I picked it up by random because the the book's cover synopsis was intriguing. This book has been one of those books that I come back to over and over again. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who seeks a soul-searching adventure. You will feel like you are travelling right along with the author; experiencing his adventures and depth of self-discovery,,, first-hand.
   
   Buy this book and it will be a treasured book that you too, will come back to again, over and over throughout the years.



5. If you stop to think about it, this book and those like it really aren't about anything - just a person driving around the country because his relationship wasn't going well and he didn't have anything else to do. But for those of us who love to travel, doing it in person or vicariously through the words of a good travel writer is equally enjoyable, and Moon's anecdotes and experiences - the take he has on humanity - is ample reward for accompanying him on his wanderings.

5 comments about The Last Great Ride.

1. This book is more about the ego of a workacholic than an "insider" view of the industry. Tartikoff rambles, and not fluidly. I find it interesting that there is not one well-written story in the book, and this is the guy who was responsibile for that very thing.



2. While Brandon Tartikoff went on to become chairman of Paramount Pictures, he achieved his greatest success while programming NBC during the days when that network dominated the prime time schedule. He notes, "TV is a populist medium, and so the challenge comes down to finding ideas that will capture the zeitgeist." This book is part biographical, but more weighted toward giving an inside view of the system and personalities that comprised the entertainment industry during Tartikoff's career.

   A visit he made to Bob Hope's home illustrates the "inside" type information found in the book. He talks about coming upon a vault. "Inside were rows upon rows of alphabetized file cabinets," he says. It was his collection of jokes. He mentioned to Hope the possibility of putting the material on computer, to which the comic genius responded, "Now why would I do something like that? Everything I need, I know where to find--right now."

   If you're interested in television of the mid 1980s to mid 1990s you'll find this book a match for your tastes. It's written, like the TV shows produced on network television, for the mass market and consequently is easy to follow.




3. This book tells of Mr. Tartikoff's dealings with a struggling network soon to be number 1! His tales of triumphs & failures (anyone remember "Pink Lady"?) are shows of honesty & how the biz works. Anyone who enjoyed 80s television has this man to thank. Find out more by reading all about the ins & outs of 80s tv right here! A must read!



4. "The Last Great Ride" details the late Brandon Tartikoff's tenure at NBC during the 1980's in his own words. He does not present the information chronologically but rather topically (and there does not seem to be any particular reason to the order they are presented). Readers will enjoy reading about the creation of shows like "The Cosby Show", "Hill Street Blues", "Highway to Heaven" and many other NBC shows of that era. However be warned that not all of the successful shows of that era are covered ("Riptide" fans will not find anything here of note about that show). And it should be noted that the book is weakened the author's use of profanity. But the book's basic rags to riches story (of a distant third place network turning around into the dominant first place network) will be enjoyable to any TV fan.



5. This book is more than just about how many of our favorite NBC TV shows from the 80s were created. It's a lighthearted tale about a creative man who made a career of taking creative risks. This book, like any good TV show, did more than entertain me. It gave me pause to think. Whether you're a struggling writer, a successful CEO, or somewhere inbetween, read this book. Inspiration from an unlikely source.

5 comments about Founding Brothers.

1. I followed McCullough's 1776 and John Adams to Joseph Ellis' remarkable compilation of stories centered around the exploits of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Burr, Hamilton and Madison. The political intrigue, posturing, and backstabbing that takes place in these stories is rendered more fascinating in that it takes place in the shadow of America's newly won independence. The traits displayed in these stories compliment the sheer genius of these men, and leave the reader with multidimensional founding fathers as opposed to the cardboard heroes we were taught to worship in elelmentary school. Washington the land speculator, Burr the murderer, Hamilton the monarch in the making, the two faced Jefferson, and the honorable Adams. This history is simply missing from our history books. These stories are incredibly worthwhile and they detail with which they are presented is remarkable. Forget the history buff, this is a must read for everyone. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation



2. There is a great tendency to deify the "founding fathers" these days. As if by invoking the phrase "founding fathers", you can gain their approval. Founding Brothers explains very well that the American Revolution didn't happen for us. It happened because the folks who carried it out did it for themselves. Their biggest motivation was the idea that they could get away with it. After that they had to make up the rest as they went along. It was ok: the rewards for succeeding would be the Northwest Territories. It is a good thing this happened before socialism, or it would have been described as socialism by the British and the French Monarchy.
   
   The primary difference between Hamilton and Burr was that Hamilton could balance a check book.
   
   There were also differences between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Thomas Jefferson was good at venerating freedom and Farmers, yet lived as a slave holder and a Planter. Some say he would have freed his slaves if the price of land ever appreciated enough. Land didn't appreciate much, because there was so much new land in the northwest territory and louisiana purchase. John Adams worked for a living and as a yeoman farmer. John Adams could also balance a checkbook.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of tales about a number of the founding fathers, and their relations with each other. The opening vignette has to do with the Burr- Hamilton duel and in the course of this Ellis tells the personal history of each of the protagonists. I learned more about Burr than I learned in grade school or for that matter graduate- school , and this grandson of Jonathan Edwards was revealed to be a far more competent and two- faced politician than even the traditional stereotype of him as traitor, suggests. Hamilton too is shown to be a bit different than I had imagined, and was in fact on a downhill course politically when the duel took place. Ellis does a wonderful job in filling in the historical background and significance.
   I also greatly enjoyed the piece on Washington's farewell including the 'realistic' description of how Washington actually looked. Nonetheless Ellis affirms his greatness, and his clear role as natural leader and first great American hero.
   The final vignette has to do with the twelve- year correspondance of Adams and Jefferson. What is wonderful here is the way Ellis traces the whole story of their long relationship, their working together in the most critical moments and on the most critical documents of the Revolution, their falling out over their struggle for the Presidency, their coming to 'make- up' through the services of Benjamin Rush and through a letter of condolence written by Abigail Adams to Jefferson at the loss of his young daughter. Ellis describes how each of the great men uses the Letters to justify his own view of the Revolution. No matter how times one reads about it one cannot help be moved by the story of their dying five hours from each other on July 4, 1826, at the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration.
   For any lover of American history this work is simply a very great pleasure to read.



4. Ellis brings to well-crafted life the fragile nature of the American experiment in the first years after the revolution and the Constitution. He uses six short stories or incidents to frame this so-fragile balance between war and peace, Federalist and Republican, the very success or ignominious death of the American experiment:
   
   --The Burr/Hamilton duel (in which Burr, the sitting VP shot and killed Hamilton.
   
   --The compromise dinner (one of many clandestine efforts at the time) between Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison to log-roll a compromise to get federal debt assumption and the location of the future capital agreed to the satisfaction of all.
   
   --One none-event as such, "The Silence" over slavery, which debate was postponed by the Constitutional Convention, but reopened by Quakers, and quickly silenced again by honest and moral men of both pro-slavery and anti-slavery dispositions as detrimental to the continuation of the American experiment.
   
   --Washington's Farewell Address, which established the free and willing succession of power in a vast republic, a thing to be marveled at (see: Revolution, French).
   
   --The collaboration between first Adams and Jefferson as Revolutionary partners, than John and Abigail versus Jefferson and Madison as enemies in the bitter partisan struggle of the two president's terms (1796-1808).
   
   --And finally, the reconciliation between the last two standing of this greatest generation, this "band of brothers" (yes, the phrase used by Jefferson and Adams) in their 15-year correspondence concluding with death on July 4, 1826 within five hours on the 50th anniversary of the celebration of their rise to aristocracy!
   
   Ellis is a good storyteller, and I wept silently reading the final events in realization of the 180 years since how much we how to these great men and their leadership and sacrifice for the greatest experiment in human government.



5. OK so I read this book for school and had to write about each chapter. After trying to get through the Preface, I discovered this:
   -one, Ellis feels the need to blather on needlessly. This book could have been easily been half the length had the author known the value of good editing
   
   -two, apparently he has never heard of organized writing. You do not talk about one thing, talk about another and then repeatedly go back and forth. It makes this even more confusing to follow along.
   
   -three, hey random interesting facts are cool, but they belong somewhere else, not stuck in the middle of sentence that has a completely different topic.
   
   - four, is this guy a mind reader with a time machine? How does he know what all these guys are thinking at random points in their life? Primary documents will only take you so far. Anything i saw with this kind of tone i did not write about considering it did not look very reliable
   
   Don't get me wrong the book has it moments. The topics for each chapter are very interesting and under normal circumstances would have been enjoyable to learn about. Just tell me when they republish this thing, reworked and edited.

No comments about Never Die Easy.

5 comments about Nancy Reagan the Unauthorized Biography.

1. Kelly's books, whether you like her or not, can be taken to the bank. You know they are true, no matter how salacious (which means most of them) otherwise she would end up tied into a thousand libel law suits -- and yet she has not.
   
   The same is true for his one. She mines the alley-ways of Washington, and drains the swamps of her close "tell-all" friends and family to come up with the goods on the "made in Hollywood plastic doll" called Nancy Reagan. Too bad Kelly had to become an institution in and of her self. If we had anything other than a "limp-wristed" press, we would not have to rely on the likes of Kelly to give us the "true skinny" on what's happening in the "Lincoln bedroom" and its environs.
   
   This 600-page tale has more than just the ring of truth. Even without hearing her voice, we all knew that Nancy was a flawed personality in the classic way of American flaws; the kind that makes her blend-in and makes her become all but invisible to the typical majority American public. She possessed a kind of "dainty and flighty empty persona" that goes down well with being a "washed-out ex-starlet" and a conservative Republicanism (or is this redundant?).
   
   But inviting Frank Sinatra in through the backdoor of the White House for private lunches when "Old Ronny boy" was away? This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "when the Cats away, the mouse will come out to play."
   
   And this is just the most salacious of a whole feast of salacious fare. Her firing of Donald Regan, for instance, was a Machiavellian work of art. It proves that Nancy knew how to protect and run interference for her "golden goose." Her consultation and faith in the prediction of psychics bordered on lunacy: Don't these people ever read books? And also, I thought that the Reagan's were religious? How do they pull it off, conning the American people so easily with their facades and "public show faces?"
   
   Nancy's deep insecurities grew out of her troubled childhood and erratic upbringing. However, throughout her life it was all covered-over by a patina of faux style and grace, that got her a long way in our empty culture. There is something mildly vulgar about having leaders as intellectually empty as the Reagans running our country. But Kelly did her job well.
   
   Three stars.



2. Whenever I see a biography that is unauthorized, that usually means two things...the subject had aboslutely no input into it and thus cannot refute or put into perspective on tidbits given to the writers by (usually) disgruntle sources, and the book itself is going to trash the subject (Madonna Unauthorized by Christopher Andersen comes to mind).
   
   In any case, I do have to admit the Kitty Kelley did her research into Nancy Reagan. Straight from the mouths of her children, step-children, relatives, colleauges, fellow Hollywood starlets (and from Nancy herself, thanks to her own gossipy book "My Turn"), Kelley chronicled Mrs. Reagan's beginnings as a Hollywood starlet to her tenure as America's first unofficial "petticoat president".
   
   The tone of Kelley's approach was cast when the book began with Kelley claiming she ran into a wall of silence while researching the book (well, she still did find plenty of people to open their trap), and the book opens with how everything on Nancy's birth certificate was manufactured other than her race and gender.
   
   Yes, you can tell by now, that Mrs. Reagan's dirty laundry is going to be exposed to the world. I particularly take interest on the chapter dealing with Nancy's years in Hollywood, where it is chronicled that she got parts in movies by ingratiating herself with the higher-ups; as if everybody else in Hollywood was not ambitious as well.
   
   In all, Nancy Reagan is portrayed as an ambitious woman who placed her career and place in society by sacrificing her relationship with her family and children; like men hasn't been doing that for years. It is again, a case where a woman who has sights for higher heights is put down for her ambitions (not to say that tact and diplomacy are not virtues, something Mrs. Reagan, according to the book, seems to lack).
   
   There is a Notes section at the rear of the book that detailed all the sources Kelley compiled from that make up each chapter, and almost every one included a little expose on Nancy that otherwise didn't quite fit in the book proper (yes when you thought there isn't more to read!).
   
   One more observation, the book also tell of Nancy's agressive pursuit of Ronald Reagan. Given his recent passing and Mrs. Reagan emotionally farewell to her husband, I can only say she really loved that man.



3. I think this is fair to say that Reagan was so far-gone most of his second term that I'm sympathetic for Mrs. Reagan! And probably grateful now.. better Mrs. Reagan telling the president what to say than Carl Rove and V Pres Cheney!
   
   When I read this when it first came out, it was a bit upsetting, but now as I look back those days were a lot more pleasant than now. Though I would never have voted for Reagan under any circumstance, I am a LOT more appreciative now!
   
   READ it.. but forgive their foibles.



4. I avoided reading Kitty Kelly's books for many years, not because I felt they might not be interesting but because I considered it unseemly to go rummaging around in the closets of other people's pasts. I finally broke down, however, and read this one. As a matter of fact I made it all the way through. I wonder if anyone else has ever been able to do that. Thank Heaven it was only 528 pages. Half that number would have been sufficient and surely would have buried Nancy Reagan at least up to her ears.
   
   The book, although probably correct in many particulars, perhaps most or even all, and quite interesting at times is simply too long and very much too one-sided. Early on, I grew weary of the constant piling on, but I soldiered on and actually finished it. Others don't have to make that choice. But, if you hold Nancy Reagan in low esteem and would like to know her every fault, this is the book for you. If you feel otherwise about Nancy, you would be well advised to confine yourself to page 358.



5. If you love gossip, you will love this book. Kitty Kelley does a great job of telling all the dirt she can dig up on Nancy Reagan and our former president, Ronald. Now, how much can you take to heart and accept as truth? That would be difficult to tell. Kelley gives great references, but the problem is that she has found people who have an axe to grind and she lets them grind away! I am certain that the former first family were not perfect. Some of the things we read about are likely true, but overall, they did a fantastic job. We really don't need to know all of their dirty laundry. When I read about the family struggles that were experienced between the Reagan's and their kids, I was disappointed. But, I never expected them to be perfect parents. I was very disappointed in the actions of the children as well. I read about Nancy's great desire for wealth, expensive clothes, etc. She and Ronald Reagan were criticized for gaining much wealth after the presidency by "using" their position. I could not help but laugh and think about how Kitty Kelley makes her wealth. Writing Gossip is real honorable. She certainly cashed in on Reagan's presidency, but she criticises Ronnie and Nancy for accepting speaking engagements, book offers, gifts, etc. Kelley was totally negative, taking most of her quotes from people who were angry with the Reagans. Why did she not spend more time interviewing the people who were close to the Reagans. She talked about, "the Girls," but failed to include what they thought of Nancy. Instead of digging up the gossip, she should try giving a balanced report of things in the future. There are many who loved this first family greatly and many of them were very close to the true situation. I guess Kitty is afraid that the truth would not sell. If all of this is really true about Nancy, I deeply piti her. Kitty has certainly only given us one side of the story.

5 comments about Sleeping With the Devil.

1. ..As much as I'm sure Barbra is a nice girl,and while she definitely didn't deserve what happened to her,I can't say that she had no culpability in the matter.She had many chances to get away from what was once her dream guy,but she refused to do it.I think they both had dependent personalities;whether that was from a violent incident in Barbra's past,or rather if she saw Minns as a father figure of sorts and needed that,I have to wonder.But she definitely would have been better off leaving him and the material items to be, and fleeing the area.Why on earth she didn't,I don't know, as I can't beleive it was because,like she said, it would have been easier to link Minns to any violence brought against her.It seems she was still secretly hoping they would get back together.
   As far as Barbra saying she couldn't afford to travel back and forth for the theft hearings ..what's more important than your life??? While she was right that she did have the right to be in Tx (or anywhere she wanted to live),and even though she didn't want to let Minns get the best of her by feeling that he'd run her out of town,I can understand that, but-she was given a warning that things could get dangerous if she didn't get out of there.I think I would have left asap.
   I kept thinking Minns had a lot of signs of bipolar disorder,and when I got to the part where it stated a Dr. had been telling him for years he had manic depression,I thought ..BINGO ! It does sound like maybe his untreated illness played a part in what happened to Barbra.(paranoia from it).It's a shame he wasn't committed and treated for it,but I'm guessing his money and connections would have bought him a way out of it anyway.I don't know if Barbra,having some health care knowledge and background,realized what was wrong with him,but I can't help but think she did, and was hoping he would pull out of his latest mood swing.Unfortunately,untreated BPD only tends to get worse over time.I'm not making excuses for Minns and for what he did(it also sounds like he lacks a conscience,termed antisocial personality disorder),but it's a shame Barbra didn't realize how serious the situation was and get out of there.I don't understand why she moved back to that same city either,and stayed awhile,even after another scary incident occurred that indicated Minns was behind it.
   This is definitely a book with lots of things to ponder.In the end,Barbra sounds like a strong woman who made great strides to overcome her disability,in spite of all that happened to her.That's much to be proud of,and I hope she is. :)
   
   *I want to add one thing here,Barbra testified in a court of law,under oath,that she knew Minns was married when she arrived in Tx,and that the townhouse he bought,and it's contents, belonged to him.I can't help but wonder how her lawyer thought that could be changed.It would mean Barbra would have to admit she lied.Also,the impromptu wedding Minns performed was done while he was still married.Would that have held up in court? No way,and I would have gotten myself out of there as soon as I'd found that kill switch in my car,especially since Minns had previously talked about wanting to kill his ex-wife,and was obviously after Barbra now.I have to wonder why on earth she would have stayed with him or wanted him back after he talked seriously about killing someone.I keep thinking I missed something here? Barbra is not as innocent as she pretends to be,IMO.She refused to go on another trip with him,and indicated she felt he would harm her if she did.
   As far as Barbra saying Minn's soon-to-be ex was the 'enemy' ..she was his wife and mother of their children for God's sake ! I don't have any respect for her for choosing to be Minn's mistress,no matter what kind of marriage he said he had.I'd have kicked his arse right back to his wife and kids!
   And I wonder why it took Minns over an hour to get to Barbra when she was having a miscarriage? After all the phone calls from Minns' friends telling her to abort...could it be he was not helping her on purpose? I think so,and I can't believe that Barbra simply didn't have a clue.She stayed in that relationship for a reason after that.Probably for the same reason she got pregnant by Minns again.
   I also can't believe that Barbra didn't know Minns wasn't married when she met him on that first ski trip.She even admits his whole family was there,INCLUDING HIS WIFE,and that she met his son.She even states she had lunch with him while his wife sat at another table,and yet still expects the reader to believe that she didn't know he was married.(go tell it to someone else).
   As far as Barbra taking the entire contents of the townhouse with her and saying that was just to 'get Minns attention',I don't buy that.I think she did it as a way of saying to him 'I've took all this and I'm going to get the townhouse,too!!!' The comments about the furniture being cheap were just all too obvious.I don't believe it was.And when Barbra's story appeared on Unsolved Mysteries,it was portrayed as Minns wife knowing he was seeing Barbra.I believe in the book it says she did not know,and that was when she found out for sure he was seeing someone else (when she went to the condo).
   I would really like to see this book rewritten to tell the whole truth of the matter.



2. While I sympathy with the victim of this book, Barbra Piotrowski, I found this book to be extremely one sided.
   
   Readers of told the story of how young, sweet, innocent Barbra is seduced by Richard Minns after being a victim of a brutal rape that left her with a inability to trust men. After falling in love with Minns, Barbra moves from Los Angeles to Huston to be with him; unaware at the time that he is still very much married and she is nothing more than a mistress.
   
   After learning that he is married, Minns convices Barbra that he has an open marriage and she agrees to stay. Even following occassional beatings, watching her dream guy manipulate and control others, and being forced to be who he wants her to be, she stays in the relationship. One morning after an explosive verbally abusive incident, Barbra decides to leave. When she does, she takes everything with her and moves out of the apartment she and Minns shared. As he had done so many times in the past, Minns becomes very angry and seeks revenge because Barbra took what he felt belonged to him.
   
   While [....] is seeking revenge both underhandedly and via the legal system, Barbra mentions numerous times she is hoping that she is Minns will reconcile. Of course, that never occurs. And eventually Minns does get even...he hires someone to kill her.
   
   Although the hired killers failed miserably at killing their target, they did manage to paralyze Barbra. And just as Minns had stated many times in the past, he did, essentially, get away with murder.
   
   While I found the story to be interesting (amazing how one man with money and connections can evade prosecution of numerous charges), I believe this book is a bit misleading. We are told of how Barbra is so innocent and so niave. We are painted a picture of someone who was so in love, had victimized early in life and felt Minns was her knight in shining armor. I'm just not buying it.
   
   When she first met Minns, I'm sure she still was still niave...she was only 20. But this same innocent learns that she is a mistress and stays. Barbra, at some point, signed a contract with Minns that, should the relationship ever end, she would receive a huge settlement of both cash and furniture. Barbra made comments to the effect, while on the "run" from Minns, that having his belongings would help them reconcile. That's a coniving woman's way of thinking...how many battered women leave things behind that truly are theirs to keep just to get out of an abusive relationship? There is a list that goes on and on of things that were not so innocent in nature, but readers are truly pushed to feel that way about the victim.
   
   The author did an excellent job of writing the book and doing her research. It is worth reading...just don't get sucked in to her world of make believe!



3. This is not your average true crime book! The story of Barbra Piotrowski and Richard Minns is the quintessential narcissistic relationship. It is fascinating to see just how manipulative and successful a narcissist can become, using family, friends, strangers, hired thugs, the legal system, and law enforcement to seduce, posess, and nearly destroy the life of his victim. A self-made local celebrity, Minns lived the ultimate narcissistic existance, honing his body at the gym (which he owned), bleaching his hair at the beauty shop, keeping a wife and kids in one house while openly escorting his much younger, blonde, beautiful "fiance" around the same town, in front of his own kids and friends of his real family. As other reviewers pointed out, Barbra, though the victim of monstrous and unbelievable manipulation, was too much of a user to be a truly sympathetic character, as the author attempted to portray her. She was definitely an opportunist. I don't think this hurts the book, though. The reader obviously draws her own conclusions about the character of Barbra and will not be led by the author. And, ultimately, no one deserves the mind-bending gaslighting and physical abuse Barbra went through, let alone the horrible crime which finally ended the relationship. This book is truly riveting. The term page-turner could have been invented to describe this book. It stacks up to the best of Ann Rule, which from me is the ultimate accolade.



4. As a professor of Women's Health, I want to be sure to remind all women to read "Sleeping With The Devil" by Suzanne Finstad. It is one of the best texts out there that describe in mind-shattering detail the intricacies and hidden subtleties of toxic relationships. I have found Ms. Finstad's meticulously researched story of Barbara Piotrowski to be one of the best educational and life-saving assignments that I can give to my students. Thank you, Suzanne. Your insight and biographical genius continue to amaze me.



5. Heard the taped version of SLEEPING WITH THE DEVIL by Suzanne
   Finstad, a true crime story about a Texas beauty queen and the
   self-made millionaire who loved her . . . or so it seemed . . . then his
   world fell apart and he blamed her . . . that is, before he attempted
   to kill her . . . I now see why I like these type books better than
   typical mysteries . . . I'm reading one now (the latest by
   Mary Higgins Clark), and there is just no comparison . . . this
   is so much better! . . . it makes you feel like you really
   know the characters, and you find yourself hoping--against
   all odds--that the ending is going to differ from what really
   happened . . . my only disappointment was in the ending,
   but that was not because of the author; rather, somebody
   seemed to get away with murder--or something very close
   to it . . . if you're in the mood for a gripping tale of obsession
   and murder, this is the book for you!

5 comments about Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.

1. Cornelia Otis skinner is the real comedienne of this pair of authors and injects a lot more humor into this book, as opposed to most of Kimbrough's solo works. You cannot imagine two more naive college girls traveling about Europe in the 1920's. It was a simpler time, and today has great appeal to one's nostalgic side. If you get a chance to pick up a used copy, do so!



2. I've never read the entire book (I'm working on it!) but just excerpts from my eighth grade lit. book, but what I've seen of it is FUNNY! Cornelia Skinner and Emily Kimbrough get into such hilarious circumstances! This is one of the few books I've laughed aloud with!



3. If you enjoyed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but thought the heroines slightly too worldly, you may be delighted by this autobiographical account of two relatively naive girls off for their first continental jaunt.

   It's a delightful, charming little book about their misunderstandings and misadventures, and certainly introduced me to historical ladies' undergarments in an unforgettable manner!

   There are sequels (like "Forty Plus and Fancy Free") if you find you particularly liked this one, but the first is the best, as sadly firsts so often are. This is a funny little treasure of a book.

   Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.




4. This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.



5. This book was very touching. It was also funny and made me laugh out loud at the things that two ninteen year old girls did. Although it was set in the 1920's and I could not catch every person to which they referred, I still got the point of the book and enjoyed it immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to other teenagers and older because this book was one of the best books I ever read. The things they did I would never have done and the people they met were werid, yet I felt that without being able to relate very much to the book made it all the more interesting to read. I hope this book is read by others so they can all laugh as much as I did.