5 comments about At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68 (America in the King Years).

1. All I can figure is that this book was researched by Taylor Branch and written by someone else - it is the only logical explanation I can think of for why this book is so aggravating. I read the two previous books in the trilogy and loved both - great research, great detail, great writing. This book has the same excellent research and detail, but the writing is atrocious.
   
   On nearly every page I find myself having to re-read a sentence or two to try to figure out what the author is trying to say. For instance, many times a sentence is written about an unknown subject, where the subject is made known two or three sentences later, forcing a trip back up to give the original sentence context.
   
   Very, very frustrating. I stopped reading the book about 250 pages in - I want to get to the end of the story but find nearly every page is irritating. Life is too short . . .



2. This is the third book in Taylor Branch's masterful series on Martin Luther King and his times, but don't feel you have to read the first two before picking this one up. I read the second volume, Pillar of Fire : America in the King Years 1963-65 (America in the King Years) before the first, Parting the Waters : America in the King Years 1954-63 (America in the King Years) and managed to survive. Each book stands on its own as a masterful work of historical scholarship and dramatic narrative.
   One difference for me is that this third volume is the first in the series that records events I can actually remember. It is astonishing to think of how dramatically America has changed in my lifetime, and how much of that change is the result of Rev. King's courage. In a recent biography of Alexander Hamilton it was suggested that Hamilton may have been the most important American who had never become President, and he was more important than most Presidents. A similar case can be made for King.
   Rev. King is obviously central to the book, but the book offers vivid portraits of his colleagues Andrew Young, Julian Bond and the ever ambitious Jesse Jackson; rivals such as Stokely Carmichael and partner/rival Lyndon Johnson as well as Bobby Kennedy.
   During the time described in this book, the Vietnam war escalated to such a level that it overwhelmed the civil rights story as the central news story of the day. King grappled with the issue, and with taking on a President he regarded as the "best civil rights president in history". His conflict between his obligation as an advocate of non-violence to speak out against the war and his civil rights work at home make for some of the most compelling reading in the book and show how it tore the movement apart. Newspaper columnist Carl Rowan is seen blasting King for his criticism of the U.S. Army, which was (and perhaps still is) the most effectively integrated institution in the country.
   It is impossible to read this book, especially the sections relating to Vietnam, and not reflect on the current circumstances in Iraq. The most startling difference is in the character of the central players in the White House. Johnson's grappling with the issues in Vietnam, struggling to find a solution to stop the killing before eventually realizing the only possible solution involves him standing down, is a startling contrast to our current smirking, self-centered, political hack of a commander-in-chief.
   Another contrast with our times is to realize that in many ways, King's civil rights work in the South was a campaign against terrorism. We are so busy patting ourselves on the back with the idea that "it can't happen here" we forget that our history includes numerous homegrown terrorist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. In general, the book recalls a time when people could look to the federal government to be a problem solver.
   Finally, a word of thanks to J. Edgar Hoover, the paranoid cross dresser who seems to have tapped half the phone lines in America during his interminable time as director of the FBI. (Okay, so the book also recalls a time when the feds were an active part of the problem - it is a full, nuanced portrait of a complicated time.) The fact that Branch was able to rely on first hand conversations for so much of his material clearly added a lot to this remarkable book.



3. This third and final volume of Branch Taylor's trilogy is of all the three the most unambiguously tragic. At times, reading the previous two volumes, I was so heartbroken at the succession of tragic setbacks in the movement that I wondered when and where the great, decisive victories against segregation ended. And ACE is of all the three the one with the most devastating setbacks. It leaves one to ponder if the Civil Rights Movement eventually achieved its immediate goals so sweepingly precisely because the white power structure finally recognized --so to speak--that those goals were compatible with its continued flourishing.
   
   For readers interesting in buying this book: bear in mind that this trilogy is to all intents and purposes a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is NOT a hagiography; Branch frequently mentions the roiling emotions and infidelities of MLK. When contemporary observers remark that a particular appearance or speech fell flat, Branch says so. Perhaps Branch knows this narrative technique is more effective at inspiring admiration than unalloyed praise would have been; perhaps not. But in truth, it's difficult to imagine any sensitive reader not being filled with wonder that such a moral giant like King could even exist.
   
   Rather than duplicate the effort of the other reviewers (particularly the excellent review by G. Bestick, posted below on January 24, 2006), I want to comment on something that has not been addressed by the others. I believe the single most important theme in the trilogy was the exposition of King's doctrine of "nonviolence." I use quotes because "nonviolence" is such an inadequate word to describe the doctrine. Elsewhere, Branch alludes to King's opposition to "enemy-ism," in which King rejects lines of reasoning that culminate in demonization or vilification of one's adversaries. First, King's doctrine acknowledged the common humanity of all people; humans deviated in different paths of moral conduct depending on reasons that are compelling--perhaps irresistible--at the time. Perpetrators are also victims. Second, the resolution of injustice through violence was untenable; the oppressor in any relationship would always win any challenge that employed violence, if for no other reason than because the victorious liberator would become a new oppressor. Third, the practice of nonviolence required unusual discipline and courage, and King was able to transmit the latter through the force of his oratory.
   
   In POF (please see my review for that, also), the rival doctrine was belligerent posturing as practiced by the Nation of Islam and by the segregationist authorities. The upheaval of the '64 elections tended to reflect the loss of face of an earlier generation of white elites, and their replacement by redneck "enforcers." While the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) remained true to the principles of nonviolence, a major ally, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) repudiated nonviolence in favor of Black Power. The new SNCC was utterly ineffectual and quickly vanished. The Black Panthers was doomed from the start with its scorn of all "white" ideologies and its lack of any coherent replacement. New converts to the ideology of self-defensive violence like Charles Evers could not even bring themselves to target known killers; Byron de la Beckwith, universally known to have murdered Ever's brother Medgar, was never threatened by the SNCC.
   
   White supremacist violence now became endemic; before, there were exceptional cases such as the 9/15/63 bombing of a church in Birmingham; but cases of ambush and murder proliferated dramatically after 1965. The destabilization of white supremacist violence now challenged the very survival of American institutions and Southern police forces increasingly intervened against their former Klan allies.
   
   Looming over everything was the Vietnam War, which for King was the most urgent injustice he faced. Johnson hated the war (Stanley Karnow's *Vietnam* confirms this) but was unable to accept defeat in it; King was unable to compromise with a known evil, and the most conservative 60% of white American public opinion dreaded facing up to an unbeatable foe. Frustration and ambient racism further stimulated conservative support for the war, while the fiscal woes inflicted by the war extinguished every remaining trace of Johnson's Great Society. The failure of progressive initiatives, when void of King's own nonviolent doctrines, was universal and inevitable. At the time of his death, King was not so much defeated or even overwhelmed, as he was offset in a floodtide of squalid reaction.
   
   After King, the depressing deluge; and after that, his stunning achievements, like a field of tulip bulbs, bloomed amid the receding glacier. But the triumph of nonviolence was like the glimmers of lightning in a summer electric storm, flashing without warning in random corners of the sky.



4. If you are a student of the civil rights movement in particular or the 1960s in general you must read Taylor Branch's book on Martin Luther King. The book guides you momement by moment through King's hardfought but peaceful successes at Montomery & Selma and throughout the South and as the movement moved north with less than peaceful outcomes in Watts, Detroit, New Jersey, etc. Very interesting and insightful read.



5. this is one of the best history books i've ever read. in fact, it transcends the history genre. canaan's edge is first and foremost about one of the most courageous men in american history -- martin luther king jr. of course, king didn't lead the 60's civil rights movement by himself -- branch's book shows the courage of many people known and unknown.
   it also casts other historical figures in a new light. primary among these, for me, is lyndon johnson, who comes thru in these pages as a brave supporter of civil rights, whose civil rights record was eclipsed by his mistakes with the vietnam war. beautifully written, moving, filled with people and powerful vignettes, this is a must read for all americans.

No comments about Renegade for Peace and Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for Me.

5 comments about Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--from Music to Hollywood.

1. I was interested in this book because I wanted to know who was gay. I wanted to know the gossip of the stars. Although I was dissappointed because I could not figure out who half of the people were he was referring to in the book based on the description he gave, I still think this was a good book and an eye opener for people who dont know about the downlow epidemic. The book also educates women on the reality of this epidemic. It also shows that even hollywood entertainers and hip hop artist struggle with their sexuality.



2. I can't believe that there are so many black famous men on the down low that act so hard, but soft like butter lol.



3. unfortunately for someone looking for "dirt" this book may be a disappointing "read", and for someone like me, it really was'nt a "surprise" having worked in regional theater, but it can still be an eye-opener for someone who is'nt knowledgable about the "down low"



4. Whew!! Just finished the book. I loved it and hated it--just like Terrance felt about the gay or down-low life. On one page he can't wait to get his hands on a guy, and on the next page he's self loathing in agony. One moment he's praising God and attending church, and on the next page he's drinking and doing drugs like there's no tomorrow. In one chapter he can't stand his mother and resents her, and then when she dies he's devastated. I couldn't keep up with him. An emotional roller coaster, if such was even the case. I think this book was written to be dramatical. I've never read about a guy that would supposedly get sick to his stomach when going into a gay bar--but then half an hour later was taking the best looking guy in the place home with him. Fortunately, he FINALLY in the last pages comes to terms with his homosexuality, admits it, and goes happily into the sunset.
   
   He also makes it seem like the music industry and in particular the hip hop world is FULL of down-low men, which could be true, I do not know. There seems to be a lot of stepping over the sexual boundaries these days. I don't see how he got any work done, but I also don't see how all these supposed down-low guys were able to stay so down-low if they were always going to parties. Wouldn't somebody talk or spill the beans somewhere along the way?? I think he told it all the way he wanted to tell it. Which is more than anyone else has done---so I really did like the book. It excited me with all his conquests, just wished it had been a little bit meatier. But then they all wouldn't be down-low. And with all that sex, he never once mentioned getting a STD which you know HAD to have happened. Terrance never did say whether he enjoyed it all, but I think he did. His will power was pretty non existant, bless his heart.



5. Hiding In Hip Hop: On The Down Low In The Entertainment Industry-From Music To Hollywood is one of several books published within the last several years about being black , gay, closeted in an environment that is hostile towards openly gay men. Closeted masculine black gay, bisexual and straight identified black men who have sex with other men is referred to as Down Low.
   
   The marketing ploy with this autobiography is to name celebrities in the entertainment industry who are Down Low. Anyone who is familiar with Hip Hop; The Culture, Celebrities and The History, will be able to identify some of the people described. Terrance Dean do not give the real name of any down low celebrities. He do describe in titillating detail his sexual experiences with other down low men, some of who are, or were, Hip Hop Celebrities. In depth and plenty of details, Dean describe the Down Low lifestyle and the types of Men whom inhabit such a lifestyle such as a thuggish Hip Hop rappers who bottom in bed. Dean write about rappers, actors, and comedians who like to hang out and have sex with Drag Queens too.
   
   So well written is Hiding In Hip Hop... at times I can almost feel Dean self hatred ooze off the page. Terrence Dean is the oldest of five children. Dean was raised by his grandmother, Grandma Pearl, with unconditional love and support but his mother was a heroin addict and a prostitute who, along with two of his brothers, died from AIDS. Dean was molested as a child and spent eight months incarcerated for auto theft. But instead of writing a Down Low Torch Song, this autobiography is about reclaiming your self mentally and spiritually by helping others. Despite his down trodden circumstances, Dean struggled to earn a college degree and get employment in the entertainment industry. After having a break down, Dean founded a successful black men empowerment organization and eventually cease to hate himself and others for being gay.
   
   Black men are not the only men who are on the Down Low in the entertainment industry. In Hollywood, the white equivalent of the Down Low is the Velvet Mafia. The Velvet Mafia is a successful and powerful group of usually married gay and bisexual white male Hollywood agents, producers, directors actors and other industry insiders who are publicly straight identified. Also, Dean book is similar in theme with another recently published biography,My Life in Porn: The Bobby Blake Story. Both autobiographies deal with masculine black gay men in the entertainment industry and their struggle to coincide their race and sexuality with their spirituality. Hiding In Hip Hop: On The Down Low In The Entertainment Industry-From Music To Hollywood is one of the best written and insightful autobiography I have read.

5 comments about Step by Step: A Memoir of Hope, Friendship, Perseverance, and Living the American Dream.

1. I highly recommend this excellent memoir by a person who overcame very humble beginnings to create a wonderful and successful life. His success was attained through hard work, a work ethic you don't see much nowadays, an enthusiasm that was contagious and came through in the book, and his courage, honesty and humility. I saw the interview with Bertie on "Sixty Minutes" and just had to buy his book. His story is fascinating, especially the parts about some public figures you might consider racist who were friends with him, helped him, and were very kind to him. This book will make you feel good and may even inspire you.



2. I enjoyed the book. I saw Bertie on 60 Minutes and ordered his book. The book was very inspirational. He has had quite a remarkable journey. I applaud the fact that Bertie doesn't advocate doing what he did for today's youth. The world is very different and a lot less friendly.



3. I gave this to my mother-in-law who is originally from a small town outside Charleston, S.C. but who now lives in Maryland. She called and told me that she could not put the book down over the weekend since it bought back so many memories to her about that time. She mentioned she and her husband laughed at some of the anecdotes since they had some very similar experiences when they had moved from their small town to a "big city." She is sharing this book with her sisters and brothers and recommends it highly.



4. I have known Bertie for 35 years, since I was a messenger on the Foreign Relations Committee. Years ago, Bertie told me some of the stories in the book; I witnessed many; and I knew about many more. Bertie used to introduce me as his cousin to his friends in the Senate, to their surprise. I leave it to the reader to guess my color.
   
   I never learned more than when I worked for Bertie. If a reader wants to understand the backstage workings of the Senate, they will read this book.



5. I have had the privilege of knowing Mr. Bowman for many years. His book is a story of dignity, determination and persistence.His story stands with many other distinguished titles in the canon of civil rights sagas, modern American history and memoirs.

1 comments about Barack Obama for Beginners: An Essential Guide.

1. Here is a short (and neutral) biography of one of 2008's Men Who Would be President.
   
   Obama was born in 1961 in Hawaii to a Kenyan father who was studying economics at the University of Hawaii, and a mother who came from strict Kansas Methodist stock. Their marriage lasted only a few years. In 1967, Obama moved to Indonesia when Ann, his mother, married an oil company executive. He attended an elite primary school, and saw firsthand the huge chasm between the average Indonesian and American. Ann impressed upon him that education was the way to stay on the right side of that divide. Even though he was registered at the school as a Muslim, there is no evidence that Obama was ever a practicing Muslim.
   
   Attending high school back in Hawaii, Obama began to realize what being a black man in America was all about. He sought answers through the writings of black intellectuals, and release through drugs. Moving to California, to attend Occidental College, Obama was not a conscientious student. After a night of partying, he had an epiphany. He transferred to Columbia University, and threw himself into his studies. After receiving his degree in 1983, he wanted to get involved in community organizing. In 1985, he drove to Chicago for a paying job as an organizer on the South Side.
   
   After a couple of years learning "the system," Obama felt that having a law degree would be a big help. He excelled at Harvard Law, and was named to the Law Review. After graduation, he became a lecturer at the University of Chicago, and joined a small activist law firm in Chicago.
   
   The book goes into his rising through the ranks in Chicago politics, and his election to the State Senate. Those in power knew that he was a rising star, so many important bills were sent his way. The logical next step was the US Senate, and the book ends with his primary fight against Hillary Clinton to receive the Democratic nomination for President.
   
   This book was written with no assistance from Obama or his campaign; all information is from public sources. For anyone who wants a short, and non-partisan, look at the life of Barack Obama, this is the book. It is easy to read, and very much worth the time.

5 comments about Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion.

1. In August 2008, I had the pleasure of seeing an incredible champion represent America in women's basketball at the summer Olympics in Beijing. Lisa Leslie and her team annihilated their challengers. It meant this incomparable woman had been in four Olympics, won four gold medals, and her teams (since 1996) had a won lost record of 32-0.
   
   When I heard about her current book, I hurriedly purchased it. While I knew she was a warrior on the court, I wanted to explore what other influences shaped her indomitable spirit. Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You, revealed a life that would have caused many of us to despair. I was shocked to discover the hardships, personal upheavals, and cruelties she had to endure. In spite of these tribulations, she emerged out of the shadow of darkness ... a beautiful, poised, and self -assured woman.
   
   I first saw her on a summer day in 1998 crossing a street (near Columbus Circle) in Manhattan. What impressed me most (besides her obvious 6ft 5in frame) were her regal elegance and compassionate nature. Many celebrities have delusions of grandeur. However, Lisa Leslie is the epitome of a class act. She smiled at everyone and signed autographs for strangers that approached. With their applications, too often our society trivializes words like heroine, queen, and star. Reading her autobiography was a reminder for me ... these descriptions would be understatements.
   
   I bought a copy for my teenager. Like many tall girls, she is self- conscious. Ms. Leslie is the embodiment of what my wife and I have been trying to teach our daughter: Stand tall, walk proudly, and be humble and thankful for the talents, assets, and gifts ... bestowed upon you by God.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed this exquisite book and recommend it to anyone looking for inspiration, hope, and a marvelous way to experience this journey, called life.
   Reggie Johnson, author, How to be Happy, Successful, and Rich



2. I picked up this book because of the respect for the athletic skills that Lisa Leslie shows on the court and the class she shows off the court. However, I learned a lot more than that. I had no clue that she had grew up in a home where her mother was a truck driver and a post office employee. I didn't know that she lived with her aunt and was helped out by her uncles in the game of basketball. I didn't realize that she had basically raised her younger sister, Tiffany and that her older sister had stolen her identity and ruined her credit. It was an informative book about one of the best basketball players of our generation. She was very open about things that happened like the fact that her college coach left because even though she had a better record than the mens coach they wouldn't pay her like it. I felt that Ms. Leslie was very very honest about how she felt during games and in her life about numerous subjects. I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in finding out what makes Lisa Leslie tick but also if you are just looking for a good autobiography of a strong woman that had to overcome numerous obstacles in her life.



3. I feel like I know Lisa now after reading her book. I not only like her as a player but as a person. It was an easy read and inspiring along the way.



4. Anyone who's a WNBA fan of any team other than the LA Sparks knows that the Sparks have gained the reputation of being the team you "love to hate"! But also, as a WNBA fan you have to give credit and your respect to all the women who have been responsible for the love and excitement we have for the league. They have blazed the trail for all the young talents we see today.
   
   Lisa Leslie is definitely one of those women. In her book, "Don't Let The Lipstick Fool You", you will get a better view of Lisa the person as well as the athlete. She shares her life, her beliefs, and her career. I truly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it to any WNBA fan.



5. Lisa Leslie's bio/memoir is not just another story of an athlete's rise from hard times to good luck. This is the story of a woman's ruthless determination to honor the gifts and talents God has given her. There is no luck involved... just pure, unadulterated hard work, a loyal personal and professional support network and God's blessings.
   
   DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is one of those rare bios that shares the good, the bad and the ugly while inspiring each of us to follow our own journey, working through the dross to get to the silver, then the gold. From a latchkey home in Compton, California to the Olympic Stadiums in Atlanta, Georgia and Sidney, Australia, Lisa Leslie has traveled the road of disappointment, hardship, and betrayal to become a champion in her personal and professional lives.
   
   Leslie has earned the admiration and respect of many of her peers, as evidenced in the foreword by Earvin "Magic" Johnson; but she has earned mine through the sheer diligence, hard work and integrity that not only resonates through her life, but through the precious pages of her uplifting story. DON'T LET THE LIPSTICK FOOL YOU is definitely a keeper.
   
   Reviewed by Cxandra
   for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

5 comments about Life Is So Good.

1. This book is amazing. This is one of a handful of books that have, and will continue to change my life.



2. What does American history feel like, look like to someone who lived through the twentieth century without a formal education? Mr Dawson wrote: "My turn had come. My first day of school was January 4, 1996. I was 98 years old..." What a heart-felt, inspirational, insightful story on the life of a remarkable man who never felt remarkable. This book has a special place on my shelves. A must read for every high school student taking an American History course. His common sense view of life, his humor, humility, appreciation for what we take for granted are even more valuable now than the day the book was published. It's timeless.



3. This book will change your outlook on life and help you to appreciate your life more. Also helps you to feel more kindness to mankind. It is the kind of book that should be in schools. It's a must read for everyone - a feel good book.



4. Life Is So Good
   This is an excellent extraordinary autobiography of a wonderful person. Every student in the US should have the opportunity to read this book. It's breath taking.... dcw



5. Life Is So Good An absolutely fascinating autobiography as told by Mr. Dawson. His experiances of growing up in the South and his travels across America and Mexico make for interesting reading. His personal experiances of growing up black in a 'white world' provide insight into how different parts of the country and Mexico viewed blacks. His personal moral and ethical insights about life cut across all racial barriers. He is truly and an example of 'you are never too old to learn'.

5 comments about Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson.

1. This book allowed the reader a rare peek into the thoughts, opinions and emotions of a boy becoming a man in prison. The rage, the hormones, the injustice and the recklessness of the system and his childhood activities. His experience was valid while his words were eloquently laced with black liberation propoganda. The book is a bit mysterious in that there are letters to "A friend," and a person referred to simply as "Z." I have read about George Jackson in accounts others have written about him and they paint him as a giant political figure, ironicaly in the same unrealistic way the prison industry did. This book reveals Mr. Jackson as a young man who struggled with the concepts of who he was, where he came from, how he got there and how he could revolutionize the thoughts of others as an example for change through his letters and his actions. This piece was an important reading. Hard to accept while easy to believe - insightful.



2. The book came in excellent condition and arrived in a timely manner. Willing to work with again in the future.



3. I read this whole book within one week and it definitely left an impression on me. George Jackson was well-written and had become a serious bookworm during his incarceration. Throughout his collection of letters, with a timeline spanning from 1964 to 1970, his knowledge continuously expands. His interest in revolution deepens as well.
   
   I find his responses to his parents relatable. It revealed that as a family, they were, as all are, imperfect and we all face trying times with loved ones no matter how petty the subject may be. I believe that over time, he had become angered by his parents' reluctance to sympathize with his beliefs, which seemed to be the basis of his decision to cease contact with them. However, only for a short period of time. His letters to his younger brother, Jonathan, are tender. It's clear that he was Jonathan's teacher, schooling him and preparing him for the harsh society he would have to face. George wanted to know everything; regardless of the content surrounding the subject. He felt obligated as he took it upon himself to be Jonathan's protective figure. Regarding his letters addressed to Angela, I never received the sense that his letters addressed to her were love letters, but rather revolutionary letters addressed to a younger comrade from her older comrade. His sexist view regarding the woman's role (which at one point he even directed toward his own mother) in the revolution (or the woman's role compared to the male's in any situation) is unmistakable, and regardless of his admiration for Angela (as well as other women he maintained correspondence with) and the fact that he retracted his statements, it is that sexist view in which he never abandoned completely (which, by the way, was evident in his last audio interview). There are also letters addressed to Fay Stender, George's lawyer as well as another revolutionary ally, and I take it that they didn't always see eye-to-eye regarding certain subjects. Even so, she kept him under her wing and continued to counsel him. He continued to use her as a reference as well as his guide.
   
   George's view of the outside world had become limited over the years (like many others who remain isolated from the outside world on a consecutive basis), and it's clear in some of his later letters. He never had another chance to converse with others outside of prison. The only way he could be informed was by literature and visitors. But even in that sense, it wasn't the same. Would he have been able to handle it? Would it have been overwhelming? Or would he have blended in with the population, remaining as unbroken as he remained in prison? We'll never know the answers to those questions. But overall, this book exposes his many moods and the fact that his mind was constantly working.



4. Fear is a powerful weapon which inspires men to commit terrible acts of savagry. Fear of George L. Jackson led the U.S., Government, the state of California and several agencies of state repression to silence the voice of a great black thinker. This text attests to the fearless nature and level of thought George Jackson was cable of displaying. The courage to formulate and express such thoughts as "the time has come for all of us to stand up and stop trembling, grab the bull by the horns, and ride him till his neck snaps," required courage. In the face of oppossition, repression and incarceration Jackson dared to challenge the authority first of the inmate power structure, the department of corrections, state of California and U.S., government.
   
   This could not be tolerated. So is there any wonder that a man of Jackson's capacity met an early death? Could there be any doubt that a man who could speak on the black subculture of America and its propensity to take "one step forward and three backward," would become a source of contention. When was the last time the black subculture produced a philosopher, warrior, general and poet "It is by words that we convey our thoughts, and bend people to our will."
   
   It would have been more desireable "for some," had George remained stuck in the hopeless cycle of criminality that led to his trapping to begin with but the growth he demonstrated through self-inspired determination, a new kind of black hero was born. He joined the ranks of Malcolm X as a man who could indeed be redemned and accepted, if not by society at large then at least by the black subculture which he sought to influence and organize. So when the day came for George to die on his feet, his enemies undoubtably saw the terror of the dragon which inspired fear in the hearts and minds of their ancestors thousands of years ago when the warriors carrying the dragon as their symbol ruled as conquerers in ancient times.



5. All the verbs above describe the text and the man. Incarcerated, unjustly at that, at the age of 18, this beautiful Man-Child went on to become a brilliant writer, and also, tragically, a martyr of 20th century oppression. Killed in prison at the age of 29, George Jackson's living body is no longer here with us, still his spirit shines and lives on through his probing literature. Much can be said of prison literare, however to consider George Jackson's writings 'prison literature' would be to minimize its power. George Jackson's writings are revolutionary literature par excellence; his writings stand next to Fanon, Rodney and Trotsky. Let us remember George Jackson by reading him, and let us not forget what was done to him. Long Live George Jackson.

5 comments about The Children.

1. The Children is David Halberstam's look at the college students who helped make the Civil Rights movement a success. The book is fascinating; Halberstam sweeps you along as events unfold. It is difficult to believe that things were so different just a few years ago. Even at 700+ pages, The Children is difficult to put down.
   
   To me, the best part of The Children is its characters. Halberstam has a gift for making his characters come alive; you feel that you know these young people, warts and all. One of the most fascinating aspects of these biographies is what happened to the characters as the Civil Rights movement ended; some of them were quite successful, others could never find anything as fulfilling. (It is interesting to read Halberstam's take on James Bevel, given that Bevel has been convicted of incest since The Children's publication).
   
   The dust jacket of The Children notes that it is Halberstam's "most personal" book. I think that this works for and against the book. Certainly, Halberstam has a great grasp on "what happened when" and he took the time to get to know each of the Civil Rights workers on a deep level. In other ways, Halberstam's passions work against him. Too often, Halberstam falls for the easy out of caricaturing people he does not like; he cavalierly characterizes Ralph David Abernathy, rival journalists, politicians, college professors, religious leaders, and numerous others as nothing more than one-dimensional simpletons.
   
   Halberstam's opinionated prose reminded me of a review I once read; it stated that Halberstam's gift for narrative can obscure the fact that his approach isn't always 100% solid as history. Given that Halberstam states his opinions as established facts, I think that's a fair synopsis of The Children as well.
   
   On the whole, however, The Children is quite an accomplishment. It tells the story of how a few seemingly-ordinary people helped create a more just society - and Halberstam tells that story in a way that entertains and fascinates the reader.



2. A staggering book on the heroism of people who stood up for the rights of basic human dignity. This book should be required reading in every school in America.



3. David Halberstam has written so many great works, but THE CHILDREN may be his greatest achievement. From the outset, this book takes readers on a journey through the civil rights movement through the eyes of both the courageous young people who had decided that our society had to change and the adults who helped them to bring this needed change to America. The book captures readers from the beginning as Halberstam gives a very intimate look at the fear Diane Nash experienced as one of the leaders of Nashville's sit-in movement. The first chapter gives readers a window through which to see the conflicting forces that collided in the heart and mind of Ms. Nash as she contemplated the enormity of what she was doing: changing the south against the wishes of many who, if they had their way, would just as soon hang her as look at her.
   
   The chapters of this work flow so well, and the reader is introduced to so many who made the civil rights movement what it was: Diane Nash, John Lewis, Bernard Lafayette, Jim Lawson, James Bevel, C.T. Vivian, etc. etc. etc. The book, a work of historical non-fiction reads almost like a novel. Readers are drawn in by the stories of these heroes, and their triumphs and tragedies take readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotion as they are thrust into this amazing struggle.
   
   Halberstam tells a great story, but the story he tells in this book tops them all. I have read many, many books on the movement, and this is my favorite. I had the tremendous honor to meet John Lewis last summer, and as we talked about much of what he experienced during this period, he asked me "Have you read THE CHILDREN?" When I told them that I had, he commented about what a great book he thought it was and how Halberstam had perfectly captured, as much as possible, what that time was like for those of us who weren't there. John Lewis is a personal hero of mine, and I can think of no better praise for this book. On that note, I would also highly recommend Mr. Lewis' book WALKING WITH THE WIND for those who haven't read it and want another good civil rights title.



4. This takes you through the civil rights movement. It is very interesting and proves to be an inspiring historical journey. This is a great audio book. The reader was exceptional.



5. David Halberstam's publication "The Children" is an exciting overview of the Civil Rights Movement from an enamored journalist through the eyes of Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. (SNCC) The author focuses on the major players such as Diane Nash, James Bevel, Jim Lewis, Curtis Murphy, Bernard Lafayette and James Lawson, with heavy emphasis on the Nashville Sit-In Movement and Freedom Rides. The strength of his work is that it reads much more like a fast paced novel than an academic analysis. He does however at the same time provide plenty of background material and socio-economic, political and cultural variables within his work. Halberstam also revisits these former SNCC workers after the "high" of the movement and even much later in life. It's quite obvious the work of a journalist within the pages.
   
   This is a good overview of Civil Rights through the eyes of SNCC rather than a broader based examination of the movement. Halberstam's book is quite impressive, and what I admire is the length of information he was able to attain from the vast interviews he received, largely because he had already covered and had known many of the players as a journalist covering the Civil Rights Movement. If you are just starting out or have little knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement this book would be a good starting point. Journalists make great writers because they simply know how to tell a story. Well done!

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix: An Illustrated Experience.

1. My dad loved the book, very easy to read , and lots of pictures and even a music CD is included. My dad is a down heart Jimmy FAN!!



2. Be careful not to buy into anything written or stated by his step-sister.
   She had virtually no interaction with Jimi. Moreover she consistantly places a self serving (monetary) driven slant on everything she publishes about Jimi.



3. I bought this book for my daughter who is a big Hendrix fan. It is really awesome! It contains copies of original writings and songs in Hendrix's own handwritting! It is layed out like a scrapbook with pages of history and narration. There are also photos and personal letters. It is a very unique layout. My daughter loves it.



4. happy i bought it. lots of different types of information plus 70 min of music. very cool.



5. As another reviewer said this "museum in a box" set with over 30 reproduced documents - mostly letters or Journals - slipped in pockets throughout the text is not the best biography of Hendrix. Then again, I'm not sure it's supposed to be. There are other bios of Hendrix - two Hendrix books were already authored by co-author John McDermott.
   
   This book made to be "interactive" with the "reader" pulling out the pieces of paper. Unlike similar "boxes" out there, much of the Hendrix material is in the same format, with the exception of a few mini-posters. I would have though that other multi media would be fun to see. The book does come with a 70-minute CD and - while this material is available from Hendrix specific websites, it's not generally found in major bookstores where this book is made to be seen and sold. The 30 minute "Studio Jam" with Jimi playing with all kinds of sounds could act as a "soundtrack" to leafing through the book and playing with the inserts.
   
   So, no it's not perfect but if you think about it as a hands-on "experience" it can be a lot of fun. And - given the author's credentials - you know that the facts should be correct.
   
   I gave it Four Stars as a fun "experience" and not as a reference book. There are plenty of them.
   
   Steve Ramm
   "Anything Phonographic"