5 comments about A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story.

1. I had David's father as a teacher in Junior High and High School on Islesboro, ME and can remember clearly in '93 when he 'suddenly' took time off. His students were left wondering what happened to him? Where did he go? What was Waco all about? David' book clearly puts words to an event, sometimes there are no words for, only silence. Although I've never met younger David, I have met the Senior and if he's incrediblely gifted and talented -- a bank full of knowledge -- than David the young eloquently and rawly gives voice to his nightmare -- of survival -- at a time when there were only questions as to whether he would. Honest, Brash, Brilliant and lastly Human.



2. David Thibodeau was a young LA musician when a chance meeting with the charismatic David Koresh led to his involvement with the Branch Davidian community outside Waco, Texas. This book is a well-written, articulate account of his life within that community and the events leading to the tragic 1993 inferno that claimed the lives of all but nine of the members.
   
   Thibodeau honors his community by putting a human face on a group of people who have been badly demonized by the media. The author does a decent job of explaining the group's appeal, but he is also honest in his descriptions the darker sides of the group. He appears, however, to remain a true believer in his path. While he does address the discomfort he felt that Koresh chose to engage in such behaviors as having sex with underage girls in the community, he falls short of asking the hard questions that observing such behavior in a spiritual leader should require someone to ask.
   
   It's easy to get distracted from those tougher questions, however, by the chilling depiction of the government siege against the Branch Davidians. While it was clear that Koresh himself had broken some laws, it is equally clear from this account that the government's heavy-handed approach to the situation resulted in the horrific deaths of many people who were entirely innocent of any crime other than believing in something unorthodox. Thibodeau's account of the facts surrounding the siege, the fire, and the resulting investigation is deeply, deeply disturbing, and is crucial reading for anyone who is concerned about the state of civil rights in the US.



3. David Thibodeau, in writing this book, has said that he wanted to present a balance account of the almost total annihilation of the religious community known as Mount Carmel, home for the Branch Davidians. (Eight adults and one teen survived.) I believe he did exactly that. Thibodeau had been a late comer to this community, brought in by its charismatic leader David Koresh. But, he was there long enough to witness the good and the bad that existed and he ended up being a survivor of the carnage. He does not try to whitewash the possible illegal weapons charge or the definite statutory rape and child-endangering acts that were committee there. On the other hand, he doesn't paint the Feds with an all-tarnishing brush either, as he admits he doesn't know who fired the first shots (or if in the last climatic attack any shots were fired) and he doesn't know how the fatal fire was begun. What he does is present a detailed description of overkill as he explains how the government used tanks, deadly and inflamable teargas, and bullet-strafing helicopters to attack this group of 62 adults and 21 children huddled in their ramshackle structure. Ironically, he considers much of the blame falls on the newly-appointed Attorney General Janet Reno, who in her first days of administration didn't want to appear soft in the face of the bullying tactics of the FBI and the ATF, and thus capitulated to their massive attack plans that were put into affect just days before Koresh had promised to surrender. Thibodeau gives us, I believe, a true accounting of the life lead by the citizens of Mount Carmel, the overpowering attacks of our government, and the cover-up investigations that follow. I would hope that one of the results of this book would be to help assure that there are no more such incidents in America's future. Mr. Thibodeau, a job well done.



4. If they were so peaceful then why did they not just exit the compound? Why have such a long standoff which they knew would end that way? Overall, this book answers a lot of questions and raises more. The conduct of the followers was atrocious and the conduct of the FBI was less than professional, but I must say that I don't feel bad for any of the people that died other than the children who had been raped, physically abused (spanking), and never given a chance.



5. Most everyone knows about the federal government's disastrous debacle at Waco, Texas back in 1993. We have watched the testimonies, the congressional investigations, and the flames engulfing the building that housed the Branch Davidian religious sect. Some of us have even read books on the event, and many have been written. This book, written by survivor David Thibodeau, is one of the best yet.
   
   Thibodeau was right there, in the middle of the standoff with ATF and FBI agents, so his perspective is unique from others who have written about the event from the outside. Starting with the time when he first met David Koresh while playing in various bands in Los Angeles, Thibodeau talks about his interest in the Branch Davidians and explains what got him involved in the group; why he became interested in religion after never having much interest or instruction during his youth; why he decided to follow Koresh and his teachings; why he decided to stay at Mt. Carmel during the siege; how he handled the media and press following his escape from the fire; and his post- Mt. Carmel life, touring the country as an informational speaker.
   
   Thibodeau has a lot of anger to share in this book, not toward Koresh or the other members of the religious group, but toward the press and the U.S. government. He fully admits that Koresh wasn't perfect and that certain actions taken by Koresh (like sleeping with young girls) wasn't right and should have landed him in jail. But above all, he is most scornful of the media and the U.S. government. The members of the media acted like lap dogs during the siege, reporting on anything told to them by the ATF and FBI as if it were absolute truth. Thibodeau and the other members of the Davidians were saddened and angered by, for example, the reference to their group as a cult and the reference to their building as a compound. The various government reporting agencies promoted these terms to turn the public against the Davidians. Thibodeau is correct in his assertions about the government's actions in this area, and he makes some good points about this. It is true that Koresh himself was a little strange, but he was no real threat and the things he taught were hardly radical. If his teachings qualify the Branch Davidians as a cult, then many mainstream Protestant groups would also be cults. It is known, too, that the FBI deliberately prevented the release of a video tape that featured the different members of the group talking to the camera about their families and lives because the FBI was worried that, once the public saw this tape, they would see that these people were pretty ordinary and it would sway public opinion over to the Davidian's side.
   
   The government's handling of the investigation was purely political, with Democrats taking the side of the ATF and FBI, in order to protect the Clinton administration, and the Republicans taking the side of religious freedom in order to make Clinton and his administration look bad. Thibodeau talks about how sickening it was to watch this unfold. No one really seemed to care about truth or justice. All they cared about was protecting their own fellow politicians or making the opposing politicians look bad.
   
   The writing in this book is excellent, and Thisbodeau was very wise in making the decision to hire a professional editor to help with the work. Other victims of well- publicized tragedies have also written books, but many of them rely on their own amateurish writing skills to carry them through, often resulting in a book that is sub-par at best and that often fails to be as effective as it could have been. The writing in this book, thanks to the assistance of Leon Whiteson, is nearly flawless and it kept my attention throughout the reading.
   
   Thibodeau spends his time touring the nation now, giving speeches to different groups around the country about what happened and what needs to be done in the future to prevent any more Wacos. He shows some strong courage in writing this book, openly admitting that certain actions taken by his own friends were wrong and were deserving of punishment. But he places the bulk of the blame on the ATF and FBI for starting all the trouble in the first place. Like Ruby Ridge, Waco is yet another example of what can happen when government power goes unchecked. And Thibodeau makes a strong case for reigning in the power of government in this well- written, personal book about the tragedy at Waco that killed more than eighty people.

5 comments about George Mason, Forgotten Founder.

1. I felt this was a good book about a secondary figure in the revolutionary period. Mason was important because he was close to leaders like Washington, Madison and Patrick Henry. He was also a leading figure in his beloved state of Virginia and since Virginia was so influential Mason's contributions should not be overlooked. Mason was a firm believer in the union but he feared a strong central government and the threat it could pose to individual liberty. Thus he was a leading anti-federalist who attended the constitutional convention but was one of the leaders against ratification. This book yields important insights into the battle between federalists and their opponents in Virginia and shows how this split among leaders of the early republic foreshadowed much that was to come including the whole states rights controversy. Well worth reading.



2. George Mason, truly an ignored Founder of whom Thomas Jefferson said was "one of our really great men", is treated in a fair and easy to read biography penned by Jeff Broadwater.
   
   The book follows his political career touching upon the many important bills and concepts he introduced into the Revolutionary era Virginia Legislature. The book does a fine job shining a light upon what a key figure to our founding that Mason was.
   
   In many ways, however, one gets a negative view of the man over his constant shirking of duty -- he too often arrived late or not at all to legislative sessions -- and his constant complaining over his health. Granted, if one knows much about the Founders and their era, health seems to be one thing they all constantly whined about. After all, men rarely lived past the late 30s in those days, so any pain or discomfort was feared to be death come a' knocking.
   
   In any case, it was interesting to see the turmoil and difficulty that the state of Virginia had funding and supplying troops to the war effort. With history settled, it is always too easy to feel that the country was united with a single mind and all for the spilt with England as well as ready to sacrifice their last strengths to that effort. Reality, though, is a far different thing than the rose-colored glasses of popular sentiment.
   
   One thing seemed missing from this book, as important as is the information contained within. Mason's voice does not come through in Broadwater's work. We never get as much of a feel for the man as we do for his end work and the times in which he lived.
   
   It's a shame that Broadwater didn't give us more of Mason's own quotes so that we might see what his contemporaries saw in his applauded rhetoric. Perhaps not enough of his own words survive to have attempted that treatment and maybe Broadwater really only had Mason's legislative work from which to glean "the" man, but I still felt the book seemed somewhat detached from the man himself.
   
   In any case, I recommend the book to those who are interested in a Founder who has missed out on the lionizing so many of his fellows have received.



3. I was actively looking forward to a book about George Mason, whose home is a landmark I visited 40-50 years ago, and whose name in my area adorns a major street and a university. Who was he? This book helps explain that. An amazing tale, really, of a gent who had a surprising lot to do with the birth of our nation and its constitution, yet is relatively little known. (Author Broadwater notwithstanding, it's no mystery why Mason has been neglected; he may have been an influential, clear, brilliant, and nonpartisan thinker but he didn't support the Constitution and in general, shunned the limelight.)
   
   The book is not just a biography, but a deep-reaching regional history. It tells a lot about the economic and social issues of the "American colonies" in the 18th century. Many of us overlook that, in the turmoil of creating a nation, there were a lot of ongoing matters of concern, such as the future of the lands to the west. Mason's careful husbanding of his economic and commercial interests augurs the role that commercialism has played ever since in the formation of our country. Finally, Mason's role in creating our Bill of Rights and some of the key elements of the U.S. Constitution cannot be overlooked, but his view that the inevitable tendency of "rulers" to augment their power leads just as inevitably to tyranny remains well worth keeping in mind today.
   
   The writing is a bit turgid, and if you're not much interested in the finer points of constitutional law or legislation, this will likely be a boring book. The author's annoying reliance on "if" clauses, (about one per paragraph) rather than the simple "but", doesn't help.



4. I struggled for a long time to try and force myself to read this book. I finally gave up and donated it to our public library. It was boring beyond belief. Only 1 of our 7 member book club finished it, and he didn't like it either!



5. George Mason was an important figure, seemingly coming out of nowhere, just before and during the Revolution and up to the formulation of the Constitution. He is one of the lesser known founders, probably as much known for being one of the few who refused to sign the Constitution (along with such figures as Luther Martin and Elbridge Gerry).
   
   One key aspect of Mason's personality (page 19): ". . .Mason possessed an incisive intellect and a commanding personality, but he was not inclined to suffer fools gladly or to compromise his own opinions. Given his nature, the mystery may not be why Mason initially showed little interest in the day-to-day business of government, but why he sought public office at all."
   
   This book focuses on his consuming passion for business, including his tenacious effort to make the Ohio Company work. This land company intended to take land and develop it for the profit of the owners. It was a constant struggle and never panned out as desired. His political views had some quirky elements for the time, including a condemnation of slavery (although phrased in the context of the times), although he himself owned slaves.
   
   Given his reputation as one of the leaders in the runup to the Revolution and through the Consitutional Convention, it is odd to see that he was not involved in politics in a major way until middle age. Yet, from 1774 to the Revolution, he bacame one of the major writers of Revolutionary tracts, laying out a critique of England and a case for freedom. While his relations with George Washington were sometimes frosty, he apparently worked well with other leading Virginians, such as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, and Richard Henry Lee.
   
   After the Constitution was ratified, with Mason arguing against this document, his health began to decline, until he died in 1792. He grew disenchanted with the national government and disagreed with many of its policies after Washington became president. However, he appears to have remained on good terms with some officials, such as John Marshall and James Monroe. While he remained mildly active in local politics from 1789 until his death, he refused an appointment to the United States Senate.
   
   In the end, Mason (page 251) "helped to make a respectable revolution." His legacy (page 251): ". . .his contribution to America's founding documents: the Declaration of Independence through the Virginia Declaration of Rights through his dogged opposition to a Constitution without one."
   
   The book is not particularly elegantly written, but the style is serviceable. There is enough depth to the biography that the reader gains a pretty good picture of Mason, his life, his times, and his role in history. For those interested in the Founding generation and its major actors, this book would be a useful addition to one's library.

5 comments about Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography.

1. I considered myself a fan of Vincent Price since I was a small child. His voice, his height, his choices of roles, I was hooked. However, after having read Victoria's account of his life, I no longer consider myself a fan. Her views on his politics were not necessary. In my opinion, the comments bordered on hate. I wish I had selected a biography written by someone other than Victoria, then I would not have been so disappointed.



2. The one thing you could always count on from Vincent Price was a good performance. Price always gave his all to whatever character he played, be it Brigham Young or Dr. Phibes, Mr. Manningham of Angel Street or Egghead of Batman. He was a professional, through and through.
   
   This biography of Price by his lovely daughter Victoria would certainly have made Vincent proud, for it is also thoroughly professional. The author's prose is about as polished as it gets, which makes reading the book a joy. And the editing is nothing if not top notch.
   
   The book starts with interesting information on Vincent Price's early life in St. Louis, then moves on to his college years (Price graduated from Yale), to his overseas travels, his work in London theatre, his eventual return to the United States and work on Broadway, his marriages to actress Edith Barrett (who bore him a son, Vincent Barrett Price), to designer Mary Grant (who bore him Victoria), to Vincent's work in Hollywood, to his eventual final marriage to actress Coral Browne, and much more.
   
   We learn much about Price's great love for art and of his desire to make art affordable for everyone (which led to Price's work for Sears); of his contributions to various art galleries and his efforts to have a permanent gallery of his own (he had one, for a time, but had to close it); of his travels to exotic places around the world; of his gourmet cooking; of his love for animals; of his extensive work in film (Price made a number of horror films, but most of his work in film was not horror related), of his extensive television and stage work; of his incredible solo show as Oscar Wilde and of his many speeches; and of his relationships with many of the biggest stars of his day, many of whom became his close personal friends.
   
   Some of the most interesting parts of the book were those in which the author wrote of Vincent's relationships with people in general. Although Price was a big star, he apparently treated everyone with the same genial kindness, be they celebrities like himself or mere street sweepers.
   
   So as not to make him into too much of an angel, Victoria also tells of her father's occasional angry outbursts, of his affairs, and of his two divorces. She tells of his insecurities, and of his all-consuming desire to be liked.
   
   Vincent Price has been gone for a few years now - gone but not forgotten. His work remains, as does his spirit in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.



3. Although written in tiny type, it gives a great overview of what Dad Price was all about. I also got some insight into life in the 50s and what a Hollywood star does with his off-time. A bit too detailed at times, such as describing Art life in Hollywood -- I would have liked to have seen more written in other areas than his horror genre -- which was there, just not enough. Overall, good job, a good paced read.



4. Victoria Price has written a book that i feel is a double edged sword toward her father. i've read it many times and prior to buying the Lucy Chase Williams book on Vincent, i'd pull out Victoria's book as a reference for something obscure or whatever. well, those times are over. it is no secret that Vincent was a liberal politically. his interest in art, conservation, and theatre among other things are stereotypically liberal that we didn't need his daughter to hammer the point home because there's some fans out there, like me, who could care less about their favorite actor or singer's political views and i get offended when it comes across that Republicans like myself shouldn't be a fan of Vincent's because "we're bad and want to destroy public TV and arts programs", which is how i took it from reading this book. politics you might ask? it's true! Victoria at times brings up the liberalism that she and her parents lived and practiced but she intentionally or accidentally makes people who don't live that way or think as her friends do as being strange or abnormal...in addition, Victoria goes into detail about his successful career on the stage in playhouses all over the United States and abroad and to me this was informative because most people focus on his horror career only. but, here comes another problem, the lack of information on his horror career and his movies in general. what we're treated to are her accounts of what critics or her father had to say about the movies...she offers no first-hand knowledge and SHE IS HIS DAUGHTER so she should know things we don't already...and by the time this book arrived she had PLENTY of time to watch his horror films and get an opinion of them. but, Vincent's dramatic films are also given very little discussion. if we're to believe her, none of her father's films are worth watching unless they recieved high praise from a nationally known critic or were box office successes. she paints a picture that her father's films can't be open to anyone's viewpoint once a critic has stamped it a bomb or whatever. i've seen quite a few of his so-called flops and they were GREAT! near the end of the book we're told about his career on TV and in commercials. his 1981-1989 run as the host of the PBS classic show "Mystery!" is also touched upon but once again, Victoria showers the chapters with second and third-hand information that family should already know first-hand. the pictures in the book are great!! i love the one where he's with his peers: Karloff, Lorre, and Rathbone during a photo shoot in the early '60s. there is a segment in the book that details Vincent's artistic flamboyance, and she brings up the silly rumors that Vincent was bi-sexual. first off, Vincent's sexual behavior isn't interesting to me! when i'm watching him stare at someone with that menacing look or if he's laughing at some devious scheme he's cooked up, i'm certainly not thinking about who he's sleeping with or who he finds attractive off-screen and so i find this section of the book silly and uncalled for and a MAJOR distraction to what the book was suppose to be, a biography of her father through HER eyes and NOT through the eyes and opinions of critics and industry insiders, which is basically what it turns out to be as a whole!! the only time i see that she gets personal and really says how she feels is when she talks about Vincent and his life with Coral Browne {near the end of the book since the marriage came in 1974}. now, i don't expect Victoria to drop to her knees and kiss the ground her step-mother walked on because after all Coral wasn't Victoria's mother, but at the same time, Corale couldn't have been that awful or else Victoria would've said something DECADES ago to a tabloid paper!! i give this book 3 stars because Victoria doesn't seem to realize that her father's fans aren't interested in rumor, gossip, and alleged communist involvement that were never proven because the accusations were flimsy and had no weight, so it's baffling as to why she'd plant those kind of thoughts about her father to potential new fans who ONLY know of Vincent through Batman re-runs {Vincent played "Egghead" on a few episodes}.



5. Victoria Price's book was a big disappointment. Price's own autobiography covers his early years, and the films are throroughly and more acurately covered by Lucy Chase Williams' book. Victoria's book is long, but the only "new" information would have been better left unsaid. Much of it is republican bashing from both father and daughter, at times it's hard to tell which is actually speaking. To them, it's heroic to oppose fascism, but those who opposed communism as well are "villains". The conservative bashing extended to trying to prevent the John Wayne Cancer Center from getting money Coral Browne willed them!

4 comments about Workbooks from the Spanish School 1948-1951.

1. This book is beautifully produced and edited, with a fascinating collection of photographs. We owe much to Harris' nephew Robert Sherman for understanding and for preserving valuable knowledge. As one of the other reviewers points out, it is an outstanding volume for one's own library or as a gift. But let me indicate exactly why this is the case.
   
   1a) This volume is an important technical work in its own right. Its drawings are in the order from Harris' notebooks and not a rider's "curriculum," so the savvy reader might make a custom index for items of specific interest. The Spanish School notes are wide-ranging, from exercises basic to riding a green horse to setting up a flying change (don't try this one without a truly supple horse that can execute a flawless passade - not passage! - in canter - see Sections 23, 32 & 53). One updated answer you can take into the technical portion of the book is the reason for the importance of tempo (strides per minute), as this was one issue that Mr. Harris did not fully resolve in 1948-51. An examination of frames of equine gaits plus data from dressage gaits shows that dressage horses use only a fraction of the gaits and tempos available to horses, and these are in the slower range of strides per minute. Milton Hildebrand's article on this is in the journal Science (1965), forming one important pillar of understanding the relation of tempo to dressage gaits. The rhythm (order and timing of leg motions within walk, trot, canter) in those slower tempos is what enables the transitions between the dressage gaits. Dressage transitions, which are the most frequently ridden movement in dressage, must be fluent, level, prompt. Hasty or quick tempos exclude them from the needed step order in a stride, precisely because the legs in the start gait must be shifted to the new pattern in the end gait: and this requires nearly two seconds - much more demanding of ground contact time (aerobic demands on big muscles!) than just scooting from one gait to the next. So dressage transitions are completely dependent on tempo. Curiously, very little has been published on dressage transitions BioMechanical Riding and Dressage: A Rider's Atlas, and this volume has that problem. However, its discussion of passage/piaffe transitions is very clear on the aids for that High School movement.
   1b) Harris' notes are focused on correct position of the rider, the position that unifies rider and horse, enabling clear communication between partners. Look carefully at Harris' diagrams for the aids, because they form an unambiguous set of motions for safe, balanced riding.
   
   2) Biographical material is relevant not only to the personal and intellectual development of Riding Master Charles Harris, but offers historical windows into the general social order of the Continent and of England in the 20th century. The transfer of true knowledge (in the scientific sense of verifiable, repeatable and data-dependent) is at the mercy of personality conflicts and of institutional inflexibility. Thus Francois Robichon de la Gueriniere's observation more than two centuries ago about the lack of truly fine riders. This multifaceted problem persists in our era and a portion of it is nicely chronicled in this book.
   
   3) Charles Harris' recollections are outstanding and straightforward, especially refreshing in an era of twaddle, pop-psych advice about riding and general departure from biomechanically correct classical equitation (by this I mean equitation in general, not only dressage). A couple of brief examples should whet your appetite for the whole repast of this volume. On what to eat before a longe session (Section 54): "Diet is important for earnest riders . . . avoid eating anything fatty or greasy until after you finish the lesson." Toast/bread and jam illustrated. And from the biographical section pages (38-9) comes the reason for the Classical Seat (survival through balance). ". . . that holiday in Switzerland. They had a festival . . . a kind of pre-hunting festival where they all go crackers on horses between two points fifteen or twenty miles apart. [?Hubertusjagd] I get on the horse and the Swiss officers (on theirs) and off we start. Now the first thing I see is a bloody drop of about eight foot in front of me, a little stream. I thought 'Bloody ____, what's this? We've gone off on a bloody split _____ gallop. . . . I can do this. . . . I'm on a horse. I'm in control. I'm not doing anything.' Some of the riders are tumbling off, some are hanging round their horses' necks. Some horses are falling . . . I just sit there like the Duke of Rhubarb." Harris attributes his survival of this potentially lethal four hour adventure correctly to his year on the longe at the Spanish School learning to balance without stirrups or reins. Get the book, as there are even niftier accounts on its pages! And there is enough information in his notes so, if you are a kinesthetically aware person, you just might be able to ride like the Duke (or Duchess) of Rhubarb.
   
   4) It is a companion volume to these other outstanding works:
   Because Charles Harris roomed with Spanish School Director Aloys Podhajsky in exchange for giving lessons in English, Podhajsky's plus his will provide additional pleasant years of reading. The Spanish School is, in its turn, is historically inspired by the masterwork by Francois Robichon De La Gueriniere translated by Tracy Boucher (you can also find this in the original French). Finally, centuries of safe riding are aptly founded on Dom Duarte's 15th century masterpiece the or "How to ride well in any saddle" (the answer: a calm, alert mental state needed for any rider to be safe). This jewel of horsemanship has been issued in English under the title by Antonio Franco Preto and Steven Muhlberger. These books will give you a hint of a unique art passed forward through centuries in the companionship and touch between two species.
   
   OK, you may be spending serious money on these volumes (all available on Amazon), but they are classics in the formal sense of durable knowledge. Eat your toast and jam and ride with joy.



2. This book is not an easy read, especially the biography chapters, but contains a wealth of information when used as intended, as a daily workbook. Open to any page in the "workbook" chapters, and you will find something of value.



3. If you are a dressage trainer or instructor this book is required reading to consider yourself educated in dressage.



4. It is an excellent reference book, the drawings show the movements very well, all riders should have it and use it. It is a delight to read!
   I have already bought six of them and given them away as presents, to colleagues, students and friends.
   You will not be dissapointed, I am sure of that!

1 comments about The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: Penn Reading Project Edition.

1. Ben Franklin recalls his earlier life from a later vantage point in this skillfully-written walk back in time. As is often the case when reading the words of those from other ages, this most human and brilliant of Founding Fathers seems simultaneously utterly modern and distinctly Colonial as he tells about his life as a printer and inventor in 18th-century Philadelphia. It is the small moments that grant this book so much flavor. Franklin's description of chasing a "whirlwind" is a prime example of that. This is history at its most approachable, penned by a man whose wit and self-confidence make him fine company for the duration of a most enjoyable read.

5 comments about April Blood: Florence and the Plot against the Medici.

1. The politics of the 15th century Italian states was complex, confusing and in a state of constant flux. Trade, envy, dynastic alliances and associated power all had a part to play. Against this backdrop, a plot to murder the Medici brothers was hatched. In attempting to make the complex machinations less confusing, Professor Martines has included a wealth of detail about the setting, the times, and the key players.
   
   In summary, on 26 April 1478 in the cathedral of Florence, a plan to assassinate Lorenzo the Magnificent and his younger brother Guiliano was partially successful. Guiliano was murdered, Lorenzo survived. The core conspirators were members of the family Pazzi and were backed covertly by Pope Sixtus IV. This book examines the questions surrounding who was involved, why they became involved, the consequences of the partial failure of the plot, as well as what the consequences of successful execution of the plot may have been.
   
   In this book, Professor Martines details the story behind the events of April 1478 and places them in their broad historical and cultural context. The politics and culture of the Renaissance, and the role of the Medicean dynasty in the Florentine city-state, is a fascinating area of history. This book has much to offer the reader: for those seeking to understand the plot itself, and its consequences, this book is an excellent starting point. For those interested in the politics and culture of Italian Renaissance city-states (specifically Florence) Professor Martines offers a wealth of information. For students of this period of history, there is a detailed bibliography.
   
   I recommend this book highly - both to those who are students of the Renaissance - as well as useful background reading for those who enjoy fiction set in this period.
   
   Jennifer Cameron-Smith



2. PROS: Well written by an expert on the subject. Broad approach; very informative. Extra (pictures, maps, family trees).
   
   CONS: Disjointed. Biased.
   
   This is a great book and some of the reviews on here simply do not do it justice. Of course, some reservations are understandable. The narrative does not flow chronologically, which can be annoying at times. Martines admits early on that he does not view Lorenzo di Medici favorably and this shows every now and then. He does go into great details but leaves certain other things out. Whatever the author's shortcomings though, this is a very interesting book that provides tremendous insight into a defining period of history. It is not ideal for someone unfamiliar with the Medici, although such people would still benefit from reading it.
   Martines tells the tale of the famous Pazzi conspiracy as well as its causes and effects. He also goes to great lengths to put everything into the proper context; many reviewers seemed to have misrepresented this as him going off onto irrelevant topics. The profile chapters for example should not be dismissed in any way - they help the reader to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the setting. Chapter 8 is also a great one, although it is not for the squeamish.
   For those unfamiliar with Renaissance Florence, the Medici family were extremely powerful and influential, eventually ascending to the papacy (twice). Lorenzo is sometimes considered to have been ruling at the peak of Medici power; he was a patron to some of the finest artists the world has known including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Da Vinci. Sadly this book does not delve into much art history or the family's banking legacy, (which Lorenzo effectively squandered away).
   The conspiracy itself is addressed, but the Medici response is given just as much attention if not more so. In fact, the sections on the aftermath of that Sunday morning are some of the best in the book. I won't go into details for those who haven't read it yet...
   Again, this book is very well written. The chapters are not very long and they are divided into sub-sections that make it all an easy and quick read. I recommend it highly, especially for anyone who has some prior knowledge of the Medici and Renaissance Florence. If the author were not biased at times (it is not that bad) and some gaps were filled I would have given it five stars. It's a good read, but it's not perfect. If you're reading this review, then you should read the book.



3. I read April Blood it for a report, knowing little about the topic. Now I feel compelled to learn more about the Medici family. Beautifully written.



4. In 1478 there was an attempt made on the lives of Lorenzo de Medici and his brother Giuliano. Lorenzo survived, and he turned the event into a justification for both revenge and a consolidation of power unprecedented in the history of the Florentine city-state. "April Blood" tells a story closely connected to those events --- a narrative of sorts in which the assassination attempt serves as something of a magnetic center which binds the varied themes of the book, at times more strongly than at others.
   
   Thus "April Blood" is not strictly a narrative history, although there are long sections which seem to be that. But, as an author, Lauro Martines is no slave to chronology. His storyline frequently bends back on itself or meanders off into topical regions whose dates are simply unclear.
   
   The end result is a history, but also something closer to an anthropology of Florence's ruling class, with broadening to the rest of the Italian polities. Looming large is the papacy of Sixtus IV under whose auspices the assassination plot was hatched. Matchmaking, nepotism (especially within the church), financial structures, and certainly the making and uses of political power: all of these are treated. But the treatments are not of one piece; a theme occurs, then may reoccur at various spots in the book. The effect is something like a montage from which only gradually does a full picture emerge. (It's a picture, ironically, that includes very little on the art and literature with which we typically identify the Renaissance; most of that came later anyway.)
   
   In the decades leading up to 1478, Florence was ostensibly a republic. But as Martines describes it, the Florentine Republic was a flawed one, and, just like the Roman Republic, one already threatened by an addiction to violence. Martines describes how the assassination attempt threw completely open the floodgates of violence and asks was the death of the republic inevitable. Did the Medici's drive for power undermine the republic's foundations? The book might be seen as an ever-tightening spiral around these questions. In the end the author answers guardedly that "there can be no conclusive answers to these questions." This is perhaps unsatisfying, but certainly correct in maintaining a lack of inevitability for historical processes. But he also presents provocative, if not always clear-cut, theories of why events transpired the way they did.
   
   The author appears to have done an impressive amount of original research out of proportion to the small-format nature of the book. The book begins with a rush of names that may be difficult to keep straight for the reader not already conversant with early Renaissance Italy. To help, there is a brief "Personaggi" and two family trees (the Medici and that of Pope Sixtus). There are two maps, which prove to be sufficient, and a few portraits. This is a book more focused on themes and ideas than you might expect from the title, subtitile ("Florence and the Plot Against the Medici"), and blood-stained cover art. For sure, violence is one of themes. But what makes the book most rewarding is its ability to convincingly place the violence in the context of wider developments as well as personal dynamics.



5. When I purchased this, for some reason, I thought that this was historical fiction. What I found out was that it was history. Don't get me wrong, history about this group of people and this time frame I often find extremely interesting, but this one wasn't one of them. Unlike one of the reviewers I found the chapter dedicated to arranging marriages extremely interesting, but unfortunately, that was about the last chapter I found interesting. I finally gave up and placed this book in my "used book store" box where hopefully someone else will find it more to their liking.
   
   My star ratings:
   
   One star - couldn't finish the book
   
   Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
   
   Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
   
   Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
   
   Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.

5 comments about The Hitler of History.

1. I must depend professor Lukacs from a quite few reviews that totally missed the point. At first, this book is not a biography of Hitler,yet biography of Hitler's biographies , e.i Historiography of Adolf Hitler, Der führer. The author obviously took for granted that targeted readers already consumed huge amount of books related to Hitler , at least Toland,Bullock,Fest,Heiden,Kershaw(but his Hitler biography was published later than Lukac's book) and problematic Irving's books on Hitler. I just mentioned famous works in English. However, Lukacs also frequently cited and mentioned Ernst Nolte, Andreas Hillgruber, Martin Broszat, Rainer Zitelmann . They are almost unknown in English speaking world. Unless you are a doctorate student in German History or keen interest in European intellectual discourses, you perhaps never heard of them ,since their works have been hardly ever translated in English. ( a couple of Nolte's works, one Hilgruber's work , if I recall correctly). It seems to be natural reaction of certain reviewers criticize professor Lukacs,but the author's intention was clearly not for general readers but those who more than passing and dilletante interest in Third Reich and Hitler.
   
   About Irving . Does Irving deserve academic attention or even respect as "Hitorian" as he selfclaimed?. I don't think so. The man even deliberately distorted historical fact to his own purpose! As the author stringently and merticulously represented Irving is no other than Hitler "rehabilitator" whose sinister agenda and fiasco you already know. Lukacs was one of the first historian who saw through the agenda of Irving and continuouly criticized his works , especially his best-seller "Hitler's war".
   
   As one reviwer pointed out the author tends to tersely give judgement on other historian and author's claim ,for instance what Sebastian Haffner and Joachim Fest claimed in their books, Lukacs only answer short YES and NO without giving historical proof.That is perhaps biggest drawback in this otherwise interesting book. Also, his insight in motivation and pattern of apologists are very cogent and insightful . The book is not about the past and it's helpful to look how historian's view on Hitler and its connotation on cultural and political sphere in the post war world.



2. Listen, if you fancy yourself as knowledgable about WWII, not just an occasional book dilletante or one of those characters who only read books about guns or tanks, you must, I mean must, read this book and everything else you can find by John Lukacs. Lukacs is one of the greatest historians of all time. Period. He is a brilliant writer, incisive, incredibly knowledgable, and almost always right about things (he saw through David Irving way before Lipstadt, bravely, took him apart in a UK court). And the cherry on sundae is that he hawked this book on CSPAN with Brian Lamb, so see if you can get hold of that fascinating interview.



3. I lived in London throughout the Second World War, until I was conscripted into the British Army. I spent three years, 1945 to 1948, in occupied Germany. To try to understand that part of my life, I read many histories and personal accounts of the war. I had great hopes for Professor Lukacs' book, for there have been radical changes in how Adolf Hitler is viewed. I am now reading it for the second time. The book is well written and I enjoy his kind of elaborate footnotes. However the Professor casually injects his own opinions but caustically criticizes his colleagues for what seem relatively minor lapses. Certainly he helps us better understand historians' differences. I would find the book more valuable were it not for his violent dislike (perhaps even hatred) of David Irving, which dislike he expresses ad nauseum. Yet one great value of Irving's books is the way in which they bind the Hitler of the war years to the little people elsewhere in Europe. Another, is that Irving on occasion rather refreshingly counters today's PC doctrines with obstinate facts. Professor Lukacs criticizes Irving and the historians who agree with him so continually and severely, that the title should be "The Hitler of Lukacs-approved History."



4. The book is basically Lukacs setting forth his views on the historiography of Hitler. Because of the depth of the subject, it would naturally be impossible to provide a comprehensive account in such a small book and, in many ways, what Lukacs provides is nothing new to someone familiar with the subject. Also, unfortunately, it does not include discussion of Kershaw's recent monumental bio. That being said, I found much of his take on Hitler interesting. His discussion of Hitler being more of a nationalist than a racist, for example, is not particularly controversial, but it's nice to actually read a 'popular' history book that acknowledges the complexities involved in historical judgments. Lukacs takes on specific aspects of Hitler's history that, I would assume, he found particularly interesting, such as the influence that Vienna and/or Munich had on Hitler, the nature of Hitler's statesmanship, and whether Hitler was a reactionary or revolutionary. Although one might not agree with some of the point he makes, as no one is infallible, Lukacs' take on the historiography of Hitler is definitely a worthy read.



5. This synthesis of Hitler biography and historiography is offered with a precision and brio uncommon for a book of little more than two hundred pages. Lucaks is unabashedly opinioned and focuses only on those aspects of Hitler's character of interest to its author. Ultimately, the portrait that emerges is subtle, contradictory - in a word, human. Specialists may argue with Lucak's judgments, but as a reader with a general interest in the era I was profoundly affected by the "Hitler of History". Highly recommended.

1 comments about Herndon's Lincoln (Knox College Lincoln Studies Center).

1. This is a reprint of the Lincoln biography published in the 1880s by his former law partner, Billy Herndon. Lincoln biographers have spent 95 years telling why Herndon was mistaken about this or that--until recently. Now they are beginning to say the earlier historians were wrong and Herndon was probably right. I had never read Herndon, but only had seen him quoted selectively. Billy comes through as a very honest man and a bit like Lincoln. One can see why the latter asked him to be his partner, and stuck it out in partnership with him for a good 20 years. The editors say Herndon was a better back-room lawyer than Lincoln, but Lincoln a much better courtroom lawyer, and the partnership complemented itself that way. Billy was better at research, and that suggests Billy did very good research on his Lincoln biography, too. Shortly after Lincoln was shot Herndon interviewed and corresponded with scores of people from Lincoln's family and his early life. It's easy to see why the law firm was successful, because Billy was a real bulldog. But his book was not well received in the 1880s when first published, largely because many thought it too crude in those days to point out Abe's mother's illegitmacy, etc. But Herndon was going to put down whatever the facts bore out. He adored Lincoln, and believed his greatness would be enhanced more by the truth than by lies... I now have a much higher regard for Herndon than formerly... On the other hand, the editors and publisher deserve low marks for the smallness of the type face, which goes down even smaller in the footnotes, making this important book more difficult to read than it should be. Don't be put off by the first Preface, either, which should be either buried at the end of the book or deleted.

5 comments about Andrew Jackson: The Course of American Freedom, 1822-1832 (Andrew Jackson).

1. Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Freedom, 1822-1832 begins with Jackson's return home from Florida, where he served as military governor, and goes through his first term as president.
   
   There are many interesting aspects to Jackson's life covered in this volume, particularly his devotion to his wife Rachel and his devastating grief when she died a few weeks after he was elected president. But the part that I found the most interesting was how Jackson revived the American political system. In many ways he was the founder of the system we still use today.
   
   The 1820s are often mistakenly referred to as "The Era of Good Feeling." James Monroe was president, and there wasn't really any organized opposition. As Remini documents, there was very little good feeling involved except for those officials who were lining their pockets at the expense of the public. Needless to say, there were many people who were upset and alarmed by the corruption and saw it as a real threat to the American republic (remember, it was only about 50 years since the Declaration of Independence and less than 40 years since the Constitution had been written). These Republicans wanted to restore the two-party system, reconstituting their party along the old Jeffersonian doctrines. They soon hit upon the idea of recruiting the most popular man in the country, retired General Andrew Jackson, to run for president.
   
   Jackson was a military hero, but he was much more than a figurehead candidate. Jackson was also a brilliant instinctive politician and a strong, capable executive. But the rise of Jackson was about more than the candidacy of one man. The purpose, in Jackson's own mind as well as many others, was to connect his popularity with something large and more meaningful--the restoration of the republican principles of the Founding Fathers and a constitutional form of government that adequately protected the liberties of the people. Jackson built a party organization around himself that soon became the Democratic Party, the direct ancestor of the party that still exists today.
   
   As president, Jackson discovered that the nation had changed greatly in the years since he was a boy soldier in the Revolution, and he adapted his ideas accordingly. He became president of an America that had become a sprawling land with an expanding population and a dynamic and complex economy in which industry was increasingly important. Instead of limiting power, Jackson instead changed the nature of power, shifting it (permanantly, as it turned out), from Congress to the presidency.
   
   Before Jackson, "freedom" meant the right of the individual to enjoy the fruits of his labor without interference by government. During his presidency, freedom came to mean majority rule. A free society was one that conformed to the will of the masses. Since Jackson represented the people (something of a new concept), it followed that his program constituted their sovereign command--what we would today call a "mandate."



2. The second volume of Remini's celebrated biography is inevitably rather less intriguing than the first. While it's predecessor was largely about military campaigns and duels, this volume is more focussed on such dynamic topics as debt repayment and, especially, the controversy over renewing the charter of the US Bank.

   The controversial election of 1824 is covered in detail and well explained. Remini also shows how the aftermath of that election reshaped American politics - the parties became far more organized. Although the Democratic Party is spoken of as having been created by Jefferson, Jefferson was the leader of a group or faction more than a true party. In a real sense it was created as a party when Calhoun and Van Buren agreed to unite their factions behind Jackson for the election of 1828. The new era of national parties was illustrated in 1831-32, when, for the first time, national conventions were held to nominate presidential candidates. (The Democrats were so firmly Jackson's party that they didn't bother to formally nominate him, meeting mainly to ratify his desire that Van Buren replace Calhoun as the Vice Presidential candidate.)

   Also covered at length is the bizarre 'War of the Petticoats', when Jackson's cabinet was torn apart over the fact that some officials and their wives, spreading lascivious rumors about Peggy Eaton, wife of the Secretary of War, refused to appear at social events to which the Eatons were invited. However absurd the incident sounds, the consequences were significant.

   Along the way, I learned quite a few things ranging from remarkable to trivial. For instance, I had never suspected that Jackson was the first President to veto a bill with a veto message that centered on what he believed to be the faults of the bill. All prior vetos (there were only a few over 40 years) had been based on arguments that the bills vetoed were unconstitutional. Vetoing partially on the merits (Jacvkson also thought the bill unconstitutional) was considered at the time a shocking extension of executive power. I also learned that Jackson had the first 'kitchen cabinet', a term that dates from the tensions in the cabinet over the Petticoat War. The kitchen cabinet, those friends who Jackson trusted more than many of the men in his official cabinet (also called the 'parlor cabinet' at the time) was so called because they supposedly used a back staircase from the White House kitchen to meet Jackson in his study.

   Overall, a strong history with clear writing, a remarkable central character, and intriguing glimpses at the period covered.




3. This is the second book in Remini's trilogy and it's an extremely detailed, well-researched book. So many biographers bury their subject and forget that most readers what to know who their subject *was*, not merely what they *did.* Remini doesn't fall into this trap. He gives the reader a well-grounded and detailed look at Andrew Jackson as a man: his foibles, passions and prejudices, as well as his extreme ambition and vacillating brilliance.

   Remini strikes a beautiful balance when examining Jackson's private life and military/political life. His examination of Jackson's personal life is exceptional, and he weaves Jackson in and out of the narrative with rare poise and skill. The reader can actually picture Jackson in the midst of his political battles, feel his emotions and understand the decisions he made. When a biographer can paint such a vivid picture, the reader will always be rewarded.

   This is an excellent book for the entire spectrum of people interested in Jackson. Whether you are a neophyte or an established Jacksonian historian, there is much to enjoy, as well as new material. The footnotes and bibliography are excellent resources and lead to additional sources for the reader. Highly recommended.




4. When we last left Andrew Jackson, he had just quit his job as governor of the Florida territory. Having built his reputation on his military actions against Indians and his rout over the British in the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson now had two goals: first, recovering his precarious health, and second, becoming president.

   In this second volume of Remini's biography of the seventh president, Jackson rises to the pinnacle of his power, though it is by no means easy. First, there is his health: having abused his body over the years in war and duels, Jackson was not in good shape and probably spent the last decades of his life in constant pain which only his vast willpower could overcome.

   In 1824, Jackson ran for president and despite getting a plurality of the popular and electoral votes, wound up losing to John Quincy Adams that makes the 2000 election seem non-controversial in comparison. Getting cheated (as many felt) would lead to a second, successful campaign in 1828, but even this had a high price, as the slander he was subjected to due to the dubious circumstances of his marriage would emotionally wreck and eventually lead to the death of his wife.

   The second half of the book focuses on Jackson's first presidential term, ending with his election to a second term. In many ways the first populist president, Jackson redefined the role of the presidency by expanding the power of the veto (rarely used previously and only in limited circumstances) and attempted to clean up the corruption left over from the so-called "Era of Good Feelings."

   Remini is a great biographer and this book is every bit as great as the first volume. He holds back few punches when it comes to Jackson's negatives, especially his treatment of Indians and his tendency to dwell incessantly on little things (such as the Eaton affair). Nonetheless, this is a generally positive biography, as Remini demonstrates that despite the view that Jackson was an ignorant backwoodsman manipulated by his aides such as Van Buren, Jackson was both intelligent and independent.

   This is the definitive biography of Jackson. If you want to learn of the man or the era, this is a must-read.




5. In this, the second (and shortest) installation of three volumes on the life of Andrew Jackson, Robert Remini covers the decade between Jacksonýs ostensible retirement from public life after serving a short ý and miserable ý term as governor of the newly acquired Florida territory to the culmination of his first presidential term.

   The central issue covered in this volume ý indeed, the central issue in Jacksonýs political life, as Remini later concludes in Volume III ý is the presidential election of 1824 and the so-called ýcorrupt bargainý between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay to deprive Jackson of the presidency despite his commanding lead in the popular vote. For Jackson, it was conspiracy of the wealthy elites against a commoner, and it proved that the American republic itself was in mortal jeopardy. The defeat served as a catalyst for Jacksonýs passionate, almost obsessive commitment to ýreform and retrenchment,ý which Remini weaves together with the character developed in Volume I. It was his quest to avenge the loss of 1824 (and the honor of the American people who had been swindled) and sweep the ýaugean stablesý of corruption and graft in Washington that led to the great democratic movement that bears his name. (It should be noted that Harry Ammon and other leading historians of the Monroe and Adams administrations stridently contest Reminiýs assertion that the Era of Good Feelings was actually the ýEra of Corruption.ý)

   For those of you who puzzled over Washingtonýs obsession with the Monica Lewinsky affair, you will be amused to read that the dominating issue of Jacksonýs first term was the reportedly lascivious nature of Peggy Eaton, the wife of Jackson's old friend and secretary of war. This so-called ýPetticoat War,ý which saw the wives of other cabinet members and senior officials ý mostly notably vice president Calhounýs wife, Floride ý shunning social interaction with Peggy, literally ripped the cabinet asunder and very nearly toppled the government. Remini tells the story with verve and wit, which at times reads more like a Sidney Sheldon novel than a volume in a definitive presidential biography.

5 comments about Never Give In: The Best of Winston Churchill's Speeches.

1. Despite the sometimes ponderous language the man's grim determination never to give in on important matters is evident. His respect for parliament, the niceties of formal relationships and his conviction that democracy is the only acceptable form of government also stand out. His tremendous stamina is amazing. I'm glad I bought the book.



2. What can one say about this prolific writer and historical figure! I am so glad that someone has slogged through and excerpted the most uplifting and insightful of Winston Churchill's writings and speeches. I gave a copy of this to a LCDR in Iraq, who said it was the perfect book for him. When inspiration is necessary, this is a great book!



3. given the recent turn of events in the world, I became very interested in Churchill. This book does a good job of presenting some of his most famous speeches and giving the reader a look at a tremendous speaker and exceptional human being. His complete speeches fill several books, so this is a lot more user friendly for those who want the more condensed version.
   
   Churchill was a tremendous figure. Who talks like this now? What politician has the moral courage to go against what is popular or easy to do what he believes to be right?
   
   I really wish we had leaders like this in our time. Churchill lead England through a brutal period of a year and a half when nobody was standing against Hitler in Europe. He never sugar coated things. He believed absolutely in what he had to do, and more importantly, he explained things clearly to people and made them understand that he needed them. Just check out his speechs during the Battle of Britain. He drives you with his words, spurring his listeners to action.
   
   Anyone who loves history should buy this book and add it too their library. It's powerful stuff.



4. The disc never played. I was sent a replacement and that didn't play either.



5. One can feel it from the very first speeches. Churchill had a spirit , a life, a kind of vitality and energy in all that he did. Even in the most ordinary matters he conveys a certain excitement and drama. This is of course especially true in the great speeches that rallied the British people in the Second World War. The Dunkirk speech, the "we will never surrender" words, the "Finest Hour" words of determination and defiance. Along with the great sweep of heroic feeling there is a language somehow so visceral, so capable of stirring the emotions.
   And it is important to remember that these speeches were not simply brilliant rhetorical performances, but were historical actions of the first order which had meaning in the great struggle to save freedom and human civilization.