No comments about Pocahontas: My Own Story Library Edition.

3 comments about Winston Churchill (Concise Biographies).

1. Considering that this is a very short and factual biography of a very famous Prime Minister of Great Britain - from the time when it was still great - it is hard to not write enthusiastically about it. But unfortunately there is always the attitude of the author to contend with. An overly enthusiastic biographer glosses over the less glamorous parts, and the events which show the man in a lesser light; but the underwhelmed biographer (probably writing out of hack necessity to earn an honest commissioned crust), simply plods dutifully through. This author seems to me to fall into neither of these categories, but nearer the latter than the former.
   
   The nearest attitude analogy I can come to is that of the `hostile witness' in court, who, having been legally required to give evidence, has his own reasons for not wishing to co-operate. But once sworn in, he is compelled to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth (there are penalties for perjury), but not necessarily the whole truth that a willing witness would tell. The counsel for the defence or prosecution always points out the unwillingness of the hostile witness, making everyone aware of the potential bias that this may introduce. And so it is, as counsel for the defence of the Great Man, I am constrained to point out that this author is very much less than fulsome in his praise of our Winston. There are harsher ways of asserting this point, but the greatness of the greatest of our war leaders comes through anyway, and I would not dissuade anyone from at least starting with this book as quick overview of some of the main facts. I myself suspect that the author is a Socialist [ugh], and as such is simply unable to warm to the certainly-not-Socialist Winston [hurrah]. Also, I have so far greatly enjoyed several of this Sutton biographical series, and find them to be value for money quick-readers, and through pure natural variance would not expect each and every one of these baby bios to satisfy equally. One slightly sour grape in a bunch is no bad average.
   
   CONTENTS
   List of Plates - 15 standard shots, black-and-white, good quality
   Chronology - born 1874 at Blenheim Palace, became PM 1940, died 1965
   1. Youth and Adventure - born into the aristocracy, went to Harrow public school, joined the army with some difficulty as a cavalry officer, saw action in Cuba as journalist, left army for politics around 1900
   2. Member of Parliament - marries, gains experience in political home affairs
   3. Admiralty 1911-15 - becomes First Lord of the Admiralty, improves conditions for the naval ratings, naval arms race with Germany, expands defence expenditure, First World War started by Germany, Winston dismissed from Admiralty
   4. Recovery and Relapse 1915-39 - returns to active service in the army on the Western Front, return to politics 1916, becomes Minister of Munitions 1917 where he is very successful, loses seat in Parliament, stands unsuccessfully as an `Independent Anti-Socialist' [hurrah, but never let yourself be negatively defined, tactical and strategic error] in 1924, gets back in next year and is made Chancellor of the Exchequer much to everyones' surprise (including his), his criticisms of Herr Hitler the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis) go largely unheeded, his reputation declines, WWII breaks out as he predicted
   5. War 1939-45 - Churchill back at the top as First Lord of the Admiralty again, British government in disarray with vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, on 9 May 1940 Winston Churchill is made Prime Minister of Great Britain at age 65, against spectacular progress by Hitler Churchill persuades the nation to stand and fight, RAF wins the air Battle of Britain, Hitler attacks USSR, Japanese attack Pearl Harbour, USA enter war, Britain becomes de facto ally of communist Russia and USA, Germans surrender 8 May 1945, Churchill tired and ill after strains of war, immediate general election called, Conservatives and also Churchill defeated
   6. Coda 1945-65 - Churchill makes the famous `Iron Curtain' speech at Fulton, Missouri, speech not well received but history proved his judgment right again, Churchill becomes Prime Minister again in 1951, refuses to join the European Coal and Steel Community (ancestor of the EU), and surely history will prove him right again on this one, retires 1955 a living legend
   Notes
   Bibliography - very short considering the Great Man's many admirers, so do not trust to this list for a full sample



2. I don't like for a biography to lie, but I think it should portray the subject in a favorable or atleast interesting light. This biography is frustrating because it makes Churchill, who I thought was a very inspiring figure, into a rich spoiled man who stumbles into situations which brought him fame. If he was really as uninspired and unfocused as this biography portrays him then he has a false public reputation.



3. This is a brief, accurate, excellent summary of the life of Churchill. It's about 100 pages long; you can read it in an evening and still have time to catch the late news. The first duty of a biographer, said Lytton Strachey, is a "becoming brevity" (he was reacting to the huge, ponderous biographies of the Victorian era), and this work fills the bill. I had always wanted to learn more about Churchill, the greatest figure of the 20th century, but I put it off because I didn't have the time or desire to wade through a massive tome. Now, finally, I know how how he arrived at the Prime Ministership at exactly the right time. I know about his incredibly broad training for the leadership position. I know some new things about the Second World War. And so on. This book is part of the "Pocket Biographies" series published by Sutton located in England. I'm sold on the concept; I'm going to buy more in the collection - Lincoln is next and then Beethoven - i.e., people I want to know more about but not necessarily every single time they had toast for breakfast. One of the offbeat things I like about this volume is the quality of paper used for the cover - it's that creamy thick stuff that a lot of smart publishers are using these days.

5 comments about What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love.

1. A vacuous book - and its main focus, whom Radziwill still seems to have a kind of schoolgirl crush on (just as she was awestruck by glamorous twins at high school) - Carolyn Bessette - emerges as a shockingly vacuous woman.
   
   The latter only has opinions on the clothes and makeup people wear. She herself bought a wardrobe of Prada clothes for what she thought would be her role as "Mrs Kennedy" - a role that never materialised, Bessette herself seemingly having no cultural, historical or charitable interests whatsover.
   
   Carole's and Carolyn's cultural references are "Thelma and Louise" and Wendy's. Well into their thirties, they exchange secret friendship rings in a way most females are over by their late teens. Bessette, in England with her husband, can't be bothered to learn about the Runnymede memorial to his father and whines about the trip. Radziwill opines that "Europeans" use titles the way Americans say "Mr". You can't take the wide-eyed, gullible, lower class girl out of her. In fact, titles are illegal in Germany and rarely if ever used in, for example, France.
   
   Carole and Caroline, conversely, seem to be convinced that Carole and Anthony are somehow "royal". In fact, Upon becoming a British citizen, Radziwill was unable to use his former noble (not royal) title without special license from the Queen. He did not receive such a dispensation, so he was legally Mr. Radziwill, but was called Prince out of courtesy only.
   
   The copious name-dropping adds to the irritation factor and to the feeling that the author is an airhead dazed by cheap celebrity.



2. This is a beautiful memory of four fabulous people who were lucky enough to meet and spend a portion of their lives together. Carole Radziwell wrote a very specific, revealing account of her relationships--with her loving husband, and his famous cousin and wife.
   
   It must have taken a lot to examine her early life and sharply contrast that with the fairytale life with a prince. It had to be very difficult to go through the illness of her husband and lose him and her best friends, but she gently recalls their story without pity.
   
   I couldn't put the book down. I read it first thing in the morning and right before bed at night, fitting it in as often as I could until I finished the story.
   
   I hope that Carole can look back and be glad that it happened instead of sad that it ended. She's an exquisite woman. I highly recommend this book.



3. I didn't really care for it, from reading the front flap I thought this book would be much more intresting than it really was. I was never able to really get into the book, and was seen forcing myself to finish it. The only reason I made myself finish the book was to read the ending, about John and Carolyn's accident and the way Anthony passes away.



4. I just finished this book and I loved it. i love carole Radzwill's story telling style, loved it! Her stories are poignant and honest. There is much humor here also. She loves information and she gives it out to others who want it too. I hope she will continue to write.



5. Charlie Rose interviewed Carole and I remember thinking, "My, he's so dismissive of her." I can see why now. She never makes any of these people come to life.
   
   That's the tragedy of the whole thing...you never get to know any of these folks. I mean Carolyn forgets her toothbrush when she stays in the house that all of them share. So? I mean that is about as deep as she is going to get into this woman.
   
   At the end of Charlie Rose's interview with Carole Radziwill he left her feeling so miffed that SHE had to tell HIM that people thought she told her story well. He just shrugged. He was right.

1 comments about Tapestry.

1. Maria's book is a wonder of both language and intriguing issues and storyline- it is a must read for any english speaking person with an italian background.

No comments about Reader's Digest My Most Unforgettable Character.

4 comments about Goodbye Jumbo: Hello Cruel World.

1. Louie Anderson continues to battle the demons of his dysfunctional upbringing in this second of his three books. In his first book, Dear Dad, Louie focused on his abusive father's alcoholism and the impact it has had on the comedian's life and overall psychological well being. In this book, he tries to come to grips with his own obesity and the negative impact it has had on his life. He largely attributes it to his father's alcoholism and the lack of love he received as a child. Anderson's reflections are often laugh out loud funny. Yet, throughout the book, there is an overall sense of pain. As somebody who grew up battling obesity (I eventually lost 150 lbs), I can understand the psychological abuse that fat people receive on a daily basis. They are insulted, ridiculed, and treated like outcasts. This leaves the victim feeling angry, bitter, and very lonely. He or she turns to food to ease the pain, which only makes the problem worse. For anybody who has battled obesity, this book will be very therapeutic. If you've never had a weight problem, this book will no doubt give you more compassion for those who have. The 250 page book is an easy, quick read and is very inspiring.



2. Louie Anderson once again brings the struggles of his life to print, and opens up his heart and soul. I found this book even better than his first. I hope he decides to keep writing, he is very talented at bringing the reader into his situation.



3. Funny and poignant, from Anderson's heart and stomach are a guide to life, coping, eating, love, comedy, and performing. Also manages to be downright hilarious with straight-ahead stand-up comedy. Somehow it all works. And very nicely, too. Inspired and inspiring.



4. Louie Anderson does a wonderful job of revealing the true self. Especially the dialogue where he becomes Jumbo the elephant. He never mentioned a Love interest (human, not food) who could be support he so needed during these transitions he struggled with, the treadmill, death of his mom, selling the home, etc. Louie remains a real human, down to earth, complete with dysfunctional family. It was difficult to see him as the superstar wealthy comedian image we see. Whether it is food or some other controlling addiction, low self-esteem, children of alcoholics, pained school years, many can relate to his struggle. A good book by a funny man!

No comments about George Rogers Clark (Young Patriots) (Young Patriots Series).

5 comments about The War Journal of Major Damon 'Rocky' Gause.

1. I read this book about 4 or 5 years ago when I was stationed in Germany. It is one of the best books about WW2 I have ever read. And what makes it so fascinating, is its a true story! I wrote the author after reading it to tell him how much I enjoyed it, and he wrote me back! Great guy. Highly recommend this book to everyone with an interest in the subject.



2. 
   
   I dont doubt any of the details of Major Gauses escape story,its no doubt a great and authentic ocean survival story: but being written during the war, which Mr Gause did not survive, its perhaps fancifully fallacious in its account of the US defence during the Japanese invasion of the Philipines itself, in the tradition of wartime flag-flapping movies like 'Bataan', which attempt to make a glorious rallying cry of something pretty ignominious.
   
   If the campaigns of Singapore/Malaya and Philipines were Allied victories instead of complete, total, and lets face it, easy Japanese victories, we'd be deifying them as brilliant miraculous Allied offensives against a numerically superior enemy defence.
   
   As it is, and as I see here in some of these reviews, and as we understandably did at the time, we cop out and falsify the truth talking about 'overwhelming Japanese forces' in places like Corrigidor, Bataan and Malaya/Singapore, or similiarly excuse German walkover victories in 1940-42.
   
   the truth is, as all serious military historians certainly know now, and those in the know knew then, is that the Japanese forces that took half the Pacific and Asia as far as the Burma/India border in 1941-42 were not 'overwhelming' numerically, were in fact typically outnumbered overall by the US and British Commonwealth defending forces-add to that, the defenders typically were in possession of lavish supplies compared to the spartan Japanese.
   
   In context here, what Im saying in relation to the Gause account of Corregidor and Bataan, is I perhaps doubt the complete accuracy of his claims of Japanese killed in some incidents, as an ex-WW2 German said once of our war-movies,
   'if you had killed as many of us as easily and cheaply as in all these movies, we would have been already losing in 1939 and completely wiped out by 1940, instead of mostly kicking your arses for at least half the war and lasting 6 years against half the world.'
   
   its true. Some historians , Allied, have soberly admitted that Allied victory was in fact rare except where the ALLIES showed up in overwhelming numbers, where the Allies were either defending or attacking. And there probably were no Allied offensives from numerical inferiority, whereas, even with the Japanese, less than 50000 rampaging Japanese SOMEHOW took the Kra peninsula from at least 100000 British Commonwealth troops, and in the Philipines, it was about the same ratio Japanese to US.
   
   More honesty and credibility in some areas, please.



3. Written in the first person, this is one of the better personal accounts of WWII that I have read. Despite the the author not being a professional writer, Gause has the ability to tell a story. If some of the stories have perhaps become blurred with the passing of time, it does not distract one bit from the overall deeds of the author and him comrades. I have had the wonderful opportunity over the years of talking with and listening to many veterans of this war and others, and having spent over twenty years in the service myself, I can pretty well spot crap when I see or hear it. This is honest stuff. Recommend you read this one and also add it to your collection.



4. Beautifully written and unpretentious, this book amazes and inspires! A classic World War II account!



5. "The War Journal of Major Damon 'Rocky' Gause" is a well-told, exciting survival and escape story of World War II. Lieutenant (at the time of the events related in this book) Gause was a pilot stationed in the Phillipines when General MacArthur was ordered to retreat. His plane being destroyed, he fought with the American troops to the bitter end of the defeat of Corregidor, and through the kindness of the Filipinos and natives of the South Pacific, escaped via a 3,200 mile route to Australia.

   This story may perhaps be the greatest survival and escape tale from World War II. It's full of close calls (a Japanese submarine surfacing next to their craft), thrills (a disguised Nazi officer trying to murder Gause and his companion, Lt. Osbourne, in their sleep), quirks (getting much-needed help from a leper colony) and hardships (their small wooden craft being thrown about in a storm). The book also has some truly touching moments--the kindness and loyalty of the Filipinos who were willing to aid Gause despite the risk, and the picture of Gause with his son, whom he saw for a mere few hours before his deployment and subsequent death in Europe in a training exercise.

   The book is written simply (but is not a simple book), and not too politically correct (which I don't think Maj. Gause would care for being, anyway). The story flows well, and the foreward and afterword by Maj. Gause's son are well-done. The book would be improved by the inclusion of more maps showing their route and a timeline, and perhaps the reproduction of some of the original ship's log pages.

   The book also has a prologue by Stephen Ambrose (whose imprimatur should promptly silence those questioning the credibility of the story).

No comments about Dambusters Away.

3 comments about Pershing (Great General Series).

1. The author, Jim Lacey, does an outstanding job of capturing the history of one of the first great military leaders of the 20th Century, General Pershing. It is undeniable the mark that Pershing left on the military after WWI, giving the United States a huge advantage when it saw action again during World War II. Lacey does a fantastic job of telling the life story of Pershing in 193 easy-to-read pages. For any student of history, more specifically military history, this text is a must read.



2. Author Jim Lacey clearly gives the GENERAL'S perspective of the events during Pershing's life. The reader gets no feeling of having been in the trenches although the general's perspective is presented quite well. The author, if he truly did set out to communicate only the view from above, was very successful and I do recommend this book for those who are interested in that angle.
   
   The clearest example of this bias is the campaign against the Moros in the Philippines. The slaughter was presented as always a necessary thing. It makes one wonder. Perhaps the reader who wishes a broader perspective of Pershing's professional activities should compare and contrast views by other historians as well.
   Paul Baum, Ph.D.
   Living Historyist
   Audrain County Historical Society



3. Pershing has always been an interest of mine, as I viewed him as the best forgotten general America has ever produced. The two best biographies prior to this were both huge multi-volume editions and I was a bit wary about anyone trying to capture Pershing and all of his many accomplishments in a single slim volume. However, Jim Lacey appears to have captured everything I would want covered and even presented a few priceless bits of information I had not seen elsewhere. For instance, he lays to rest a debate that has raged on the Internet and among historians as to whether Pershing ever condoned wrapping dead Islamic insurgents in pork skins to deter others. In summary, the book proceeds at a furious pace and truly brings Pershing to life. It is a must read for all historians, and for anyone else look for brilliant leadership study.