5 comments about Bess of Hardwick: Empire Builder.

1. Bess of Hardwick defied the norms of Tudor society and became the most powerful and wealthy woman in Tudor England after Queen Elizabeth I. Bess married four times, each time more successfully then the last, negotiating before the marriage to ensure she was financially stable should her husband die.
   
   She was a loving, but strict mother and grandmother, dedicated to advancing her family, through court contacts and cunning marriages. She is known for marrying well, but it is her second husband, Chatsworth, through whom she set up her dynasty. Chatsworth House is still one of the finest in England. Bess is also known as the "houser" of Mary, Queen of Scots, held in England by her cousin, Queen Elizabeth for years.
   
   This is a great story of one woman's power of personality and sheer determination in a man's world.



2. To be honest, I was hoping for (and thought I ordered) a work of good historical fiction, such as "The Tower and the Dream," a book about Bess that I couldn't put down. This book is a biography and I don't find the author particularly interesting to read. Her style of writing tends to be dull and unimaginative, which is a shame because the story of Bess of Hardwick is quite a fascinating one. In my opinion, the one word that sums up this work is "dry."
   
   If you are looking for details and facts about the life of Bess of Hardwick, this work will provide them. If you are looking for a good read, this just isn't it.
   
   Alexandra, Visalia, CA



3. Bess of Hardwick was born the daughter of a gentlemen squire, that is, a sort of farmer with a few servents, but an ancestry that allowed him (and his wife) to be part of the "gentry" in the age of King Henry VIII. She was able to become, by the time of her death at the (then) remarkable age of 80 the second most powerful and richest woman in England, after her friend Queen Elizabeth I. She had been able to marry off her children and step children very well,into the most powerful names of Tudor aristocracy and the author shows how many aristocratic houses of England are directly descended from this woman, including the Dukes of Devonshire.
   Bess began the building of the fabulous home "Chatsworth" which is still a showpiece, though re-done over time. (See the biography of "Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire for more on Chatsworth).
   Bess was the grandmother of the Princess Arbella, who could have just as well been the next Queen of England after Elizabeth I: Arbella had the exact same blood lines as her cousin James I, but her life, plotted and planned by her grandmother who had raised her with Queenship in mind, ended tragically).
   Bess was a formidable yet at times kindly woman, as the author says, a type of CEO in the Tudor world.
   It was a fascinating biography and a great glimpse in the Tudor/ Elzabethan world. (Having read so much about Henry VIII, Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, etc, it is interesting to read about a non royal person, for other insights into that world.) Very well and clearly written. Highly recommended.



4. I love history and this was a great book. My friends want to read it as well and they are not history lovers. So it is a great read.



5. My first experience with Bess of Hardwick was through a historical romance novel several years ago. After some research online, I discovered so much more about her. I find her to be an extraordinary woman who lived in difficult times. I felt that Mary Lovell captured her perfectly. There was so much more information that I had never read before. I would recommend this biography to anyone who enjoys reading about life in the Tudor era.

5 comments about John Quincy Adams: (The American Presidents Series).

1. Great, concise biography. You will want to read another in-depth bio after this one. You can't read enough about these great ones.



2. One can't help but view this biography as if Remini were defending the honor of an individual he clearly found wanting. John Quincy is so much the prideful product of his famous forebears (must read McCullough's John Adams first), that he can't help but fall short in his own right. Particularly insightful is Quincy's stubborn wrong-headedness in his managing of his cabinet appointments, which contributed greatly to a sour legacy. Remini does serve JQ well in praising his foreign policy successes as ambassador and Sec. of State, and provides enlightened review of his post-presidency legislative terms.....but clearly the tone is condemning of a most ascetic and belligerent man reaching beyond his natural skills as a diplomat to underachieve as an executive.



3. This biography of John Quincy Adams, referred to as JQA throughout much of the book, is quite a treat. It astonishes me that so much information can be packed into such a short book (155 pages of text). Still, from my perspective, this is a satisfying book.
   
   John Quincy Adams was truly an exceptional character to study. As a young person, he accompanied his father, John Adams, to Europe to help him in his diplomatic duties. JQA learned an immense amount, developed many useful skills (including learning different languages), and began his career of public service at a very young age.
   
   Born in 1767, he lives a long and full life, dying in 1848. His coffin contained language was written by Daniel Webster (whom Adams detested) (Page 155): "A citizen of the United States, in the Capitol of Washington, February 23, 1848, Having served his country for half a century, And enjoyed its highest honors."
   
   A sampling of some of his accomplishments: His service abroad while in his teens, going to Russia apart from his father to serve as an assistant to the American ambassador there (the ambassador did not speak French, and JQA's command of that language was valuable in the Russian court); His first tour of Congress was controversial as his independence led both parties to sometimes get irritated with him; His time as Secretary of State, during which he developed the Monroe Doctrine; His controversial election as President and the rough politics of his one term; his return to the House of Representatives as a cantankerous and independent Representative. His return to Congress after serving as President is extraordinary, not repeated afterwards by any former President. In his term, old as he was, he served as a stalwart against slavery, and near the end of his life (as viewers of the movie "Amistad" know) he argued before the Supreme Court of the miscarriage of justice against the enslaved Africans who had seized control of the slave ship.
   
   All in all, a quick read and a pretty satisfying volume.



4. Robert Remini's brief study of John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) is part of the American Presidency Series edited by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. The series has the commendable aim of introducing the reader to each of the Presidents in a volume of short scope. The broader aim, I think, is to reawaken an appreciation of the history of our country and to stimulate reflection on the American experience. Thus, each volume tries to present a story of a life and also to explain briefly what is unique about each President and makes him worthy to be remembered.
   
   Remini gives an excellent discussion of John Quincy Adams's service to the United States, both during his Presidency and before and after it. The aspect of JQA's public service that stands out, both in his Presidency and otherwise, is his commitment to American Nationalism. By this I mean a devotion to creating a strong, united nation for all the people to promote the public welfare. JQA worked diligently to advance the interests of the entire American people, as he saw these interests, rather than to be a tool of any faction or party or momentary passion. Much of the time, he succeeded.
   
   As President, JQA advocated the creation of public works and improvements to link the country together. He was a strong supporter of education, scientific advancement, and learning. He wanted the Federal government to play an active role in supporting these ends and worked towards the creation of an American university. (After his Presidency he was a strong advocate for the creation of the Smithsonian Institution.)
   
   Before he assumed the Presidency, Adams served as the Secretary of State under James Monroe. He worked for the goal of American Nationalism by expanding the boundaries of the United States through a skillful exercise of diplomacy until they extended to the Pacific Ocean. JQA also was instrumental in the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine.
   
   Following his presidency. JQA served as a Congressman from Massachusetts. He distinguished himself in working for the anti-slavery cause and, specifically, by his tireless opposition to the "gag rule" which aimed to prevent critical discussion of slavery-related issues in the halls of Congress.
   
   Remini presents his material in a way that focuses on this theme of JQA's public service and on its nationalistic aspirations . He also points out how and why JQA failed to realize many of his goals, particularly during his term as the sixth President (1825-1828) Adams was named President by the House of Representatives following a highly contested election. It was alleged that he struck a "corrupt bargain" with Henry Clay, who became Adams's Secretary of State. This "corrupt bargain" doomed the Adams Presidency and tarnished both Adams's and Clay's careers.
   
   Adams was also highly opinionated and stuffy and gave the impression of aloofness. He was not a good politician and lacked a certain ability to compromise or to work cooperatively with others. At one point Remini writes (p. 110): "It is really impossible to think of any other president quite like John Quincy Adams. He seemed intent on destroying himself and his administration. By the same token, it is difficult to think of a president with greater personal integrity." JQA was defeated for a second term by Andrew Jackson in a bitterly fought campaign. Among other things, Jackson possessed abundant popular appeal and charisma, in sharp contrast to JQA's aloof, intellectual character.
   
   While Adams's Presidency failed, his goals and ideals were good. They lived on and deserve studying and remembering.
   
   Remini also gives a good summary of Adams's personal life, adopting some of the psychohistory of JQa's recent biographers. He points out the stresses that Adams endured from his famous father and mother and the pressures placed upon him and his brothers for high achievement. JQA also imposed these pressures and expectations, alas, on his own children. There is a good discussion of Adams's failed love affair as a young man --probably the one passion of his life -- and of his subsequent marriage to Louisa Johnson. Remini describes JQAs extensive intellectual interests, his tendencies to anger and to depression and he links these traits in a sensible way to the failings of Adams's Presidency.
   
   This is an excellent study of JQA which captures in short compass the essence and character of his contribution to the United States. Readers who want to learn more about JQA -- with a focus on his service as Secretary of State and as Congressman from Massachusetts may wish to read the two-volume study by Samuel Flagg Bemis: "Joh Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy" (1949) and "John Quincy Adams and the Union" (1956).
   
   Robin Friedman



5. I am familiar with the concept of the American Presidents Series, whereby each chief executive is given a relatively short and concise treatment. Perfect for the history buff that might not want to invest several weeks in reading a two volume discourse on the life and times of James K. Polk.
   
   John Quincy Adams was an important American statesman during a turbulent period of American history. His heritage as a son of Founding Father John Adams, coupled with a virtual lifetime of public service is certainly deserving of study (granted, for a serious history buff, probably more than that provided in this work). I was therefore somewhat disappointed when upon receipt of the book, it was no larger than a mere pamphlet.
   
   The Amazon synopsis lists it as being composed of 196 pages. I can't imagine how this number was arrived at. The text of the book comes in at 155 pages. Even including the "Editor's Note", endnotes, milestones, bibliography and index, only 173 are consumed. If you add the title page, all the blank pages at the beginning and end of the book AND the front and back cover, you still can't come up with 196 pages. Therefore, what you have is a very short biography that is actually over 20% shorter than advertised. Certainly understandable in the case of some of the "sketchier" Presidents, but John Quincy Adams?
   
   Adams, born into the illustrious family of John and Abigail Adams, was raised to lead a life in politics. It is an unusual set of circumstances that resulted in Adams's presidency actually being viewed as the least successful period of his life, rather than its pinnacle. Adams was an accomplished diplomat from an early age, spending productive time in all the European capitals throughout the early American administrations. He finally served as Secretary of State under James Monroe, a recognized stepping stone to the presidency.
   
   His election in 1824, by a bitterly divided House of Representatives, ushered in a period of political bitterness and infighting astonishing in its ferocity. His personal feuds with Andrew Jackson and his supporters are possibly the most vicious in political history. Adams's presidency is generally viewed as quite ineffective. His refusal to take advantage of political patronage and his naivety in matters of political strategy doomed him to serve a single term.
   
   Following his presidency, Adams was elected to represent the state of Massachusetts in the House of Representatives, where he continued to be a thorn in the side of his opponents, from all aspects of the political spectrum. The single personality trait of Adams highlighted throughout this work is independence. His refusal to abide by party lines and forge long lasting alliances resulted in his failure to govern firm majorities throuhgout his career.
   
   He was a henpecked son and, according to the author, a failure as a father and husband. He comes across many times as a sanctimonious Puritan and devolved later in life into an unpleasant, irascible, back bencher. Nevertheless, he was a seminal figure in early 19th century American history and deserving of more than 155 pages of treatment.
   
   Finally, a note on the author's style. Given the brevity of the work and the scope of Adams's life, it is not surprising that the writing sometimes feels clipped and brusque, moving quickly from topic to topic. On several ocassions, the author begins paragraphs with short, declarative statements such as, "What a disaster!", "What an opening!", "That did it!" (twice), "Superior management!", "What idiocy!", that lent a jarring almost inappropriately informal tone to the writing.
   
   All in all a relatively unsatisfactory work. Had the author in fact taken 196 pages to present the subject, perhaps it would have been better received. Nevertheless, if you want an ultra quick and dirty synopsis on the life and political career of John Quincy Adams and only have 5-6 hours to invest, this may be the best you could do.

No comments about The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition.

1 comments about Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings (Library of America).

1. This fine volume from the wonderful Library of America, is a collection of the great Benjamin Franklin's later writings. It is the second volume of what used to be a single huge book from the LOA. This volume begins with Franklin's letters from his time as a diplomat in London, and then his pamphlets, political satires, and other writings when he represented our Revolutionary Government from 1776-1785 from Paris at the doomed court of Louis VI. His writings from the Constitutional Convention and writings from Philadelphia after his return to the United States are also included. Probably the most popular items included will be the Preface and Maxims of the Poor Richard's Almanac and the FOUR parts of his autobiography. Franklin is simply an amazing man.
   
   Benjamin Franklin is one of the great icons of the American Founding. He is truly one of the essential men who built our nation and deserves every praise we can heap on him. When we see images of the founders, they are all shown as old men, not how old they were in 1776. Franklin was really a generation older than most of the firebrands who led the Revolution. He was seventy when he signed the Declaration of Independence (John Adams was 41, George Washington 44, and Thomas Jefferson 33 on July 4, 1776) and eighty-one when he signed our Constitution as a member of the delegation from Pennsylvania. He was an amazing man. He was a successful printer, inventor, philanthropist, revolutionary, diplomat, and all around student of the world.
   
   This book is interesting to dip into and read just those portions that interest you, as well as reading its more than 800 pages front to back. It has great notes on the text that provide contextual and translation help as well as sources, a most interesting chronology of Franklin's long and productive life, and an index.
   
   This certainly is a must have for your shelf on the history of America's Founding.

5 comments about James K. Polk: 1845 - 1849: The American Presidents Series.

1. James Polk was more successful than anyone would expect, given that so little is known about him. this book covers the highlights. It's well written and a quick read. Not all the detail some would like, but a good overview and entertaining too.



2. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. is the overall editor of the "American Presidents" series. This features short biographies of American presidents, their backgrounds, their accomplishments (or lack thereof), and their post-presidency lives. The purpose of this series, in Schlesinger's words (Page xvi): "It is the aim of the American Presidents series to present the grand panorama of our chief executives in volumes compact enough for the busy reader, lucid enough for the students, authoritative enough for the scholar."
   
   
   Nicknamed "Little Hickory," after Andrew Jackson, as his political career matured, James K. Polk is routinely judged to be one of the better American presidents. However, for the most part, he is little known to most Americans. This book provides a basis for understanding why his reputation among historians is so positive. The author, John Siegenthaler, insists that (Pages 1-2): "In the nineteenth century, only Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln would wield the power of the office of chief magistrate as effectively."
   
   The book discusses his family background and his youth. He had some serious medical problems, leading to surgery in a time where surgery was not far from butchery. He was intellectually rigid, not very imaginative, was incapable of thinking outside the box. Yet he was talented and determined to achieve his goals.
   
   Early in his career, "Old Hickory" and Polk became allies. It was a relationship that would redound greatly to Polk's benefit. He was a firm Democrat, in Jackson's tradition. In the 1820s, he was elected to the House of Representatives. After Jackson's accession to the Presidency, Polk served as one of his champions in Congress, eventually becoming Speaker of the House.
   
   Then, he returned to Tennessee to run for Governor. He triumphed. However, after this, his political luck disappeared, as he became a two time loser. In the run-up to the presidential race in 1844, his only desire was to become the Vice-Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. He became the first "dark horse" candidate to be nominated as President (the machinations are worth reading!) and then elected to the highest office in the land. He had promised to serve only one time and listed 4 goals that he intended to achieve, including the admission of Texas into the Union.
   
   After many struggles and much pain, he succeeded. However, the tough years in the White House had an effect on him, and he was dead shortly after his term ended.
   
   This book is a good read; it is relatively brief (156 pages of text); it lays out why he is rated so highly, although one can surely disagree with his positions. I would recommend this highly for what it is--a brief introduction to a person who is rated as one of our better presidents.



3. How does one properly define greatness in a leader? This is the overwhelming question that emerges when reading John Seigenthaler's gracefully written and thorough book on Polk. For almost 60 years now, presidential scholars have consistently ranked Polk as great or near-great. The assessment seems to be based primarily on the fact that Polk accomplished all four aims on which he campaigned--lowering internal tariffs, establishing a national treasury, securing Oregon from Britain, and wresting California from Mexico. But is success in achieving political goals itself enough to establish presidential greatness? What if the goals themselves aren't particularly praiseworthy?
   
   Styled "young Hickory" because he was the heir apparent to Andrew Jackson, Polk was a curious political mix of populism and imperialism. Like his mentor Jackson, he seems genuinely concerned to protect the laborer and yeoman from big money industrialists and private bankers. But he also bullied one nation (Britain) and provoked a war with another (Mexico) to extend the nation's borders to the Pacific coast. No other US president has been as open and successful a proponent of Manifest Destiny.
   
   Like most wartime presidents, Polk discovered that his own war consumed an inordinate amount of his time and energy and generated a great deal of criticism. It's not clear if the cause of the war was legally justified. Depending on how one interpreted disputes over the border separating Mexico and the US, the event that sparked the war--a Mexican assault on a US patrol--might or might not have been justified. But Polk seized the opportunity to send in the cavalry.
   
   Whigs and others were horrified by what they saw as Polk's crass war-mongering for land. Newly-minted congressman Abraham Lincoln spoke against it (and this probably cost him re-election). So did literary luminaries such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.k (Others, such as Walt Whitman, agitated for annexing the whole of Mexico.) Many of the officers who served in the war, including Robert E. Lee and Winfield Scott, thought it an unjust one. Moreover, the war had a huge price tag in lives: 13,000 casualties, the vast majority of them caused by illness. But when it was over, Polk had extended the borders of the country north and west, making the nation truly continental. The spoils from the war were larger than even the Louisiana Purchase.
   
   Does this make Polk a great president? Viewed from a purely pragmatic perspective, perhaps. Viewed from the viewpoint of empire, undoubtedly. But viewed from a humanitarian or democratic perspective? The question is an open one, and it's to Seigenthaler's credit that he raises it in his excellent little book.
   
   In addition, Seigenthaler provides enlightening glimpses into Polk the man and the president. Polk underwent a horrific operation when he was a teenager that probably left him sterile and may have contributed to his early death just three months after leaving office. Polk pledged himself to serving but one term, and could have taken a strong and no-risk stand against slavery. But he consistently side-stepped the issue during his term. His wartime territorial gains, however, only heated up the national debate about the extension of slavery. Apparently, Polk was one of the hardest-working presidents we've ever had, rarely leaving the White House. He was also the first president to keep a detailed daily journal. All in all, the portrait that comes through is of a dedicated, driven man. But a great president?



4. The American Presidents series, edited by the late Arthur Schlesinger Jr. is performing an outstanding service in its short biographical volumes, written by scholars, about each of the Presidents of the United States. This volume of the series, by John Seigenthaler, the founding editorial director of USA today, is devoted to the 11th President, James K. Polk, (1795 -- 1849). Seigenthaler's book does not measure up to some others in the series due to its failure to come to grips with the troubling issues of Polk's presidency. Yet, it does present a good portrait of a too-little known president and his accomplishments.
   
   At the age of 17, young Polk endured a painful operation without anesthetic on his urinary tract which this book describes in excruciating detail. Seigenthaler suggests, reasonably enough, that undergoing and bouncing back from this dreadful procedure gave Polk the strength, drive, and will that he showed in the political arena for the rest of his life. Throughout his life, Polk was a committed, highly partisan Democrat and an ally of his fellow Tennesean, Andrew Jackson. Polk served in the State Legislature of Tennessee, and in the House of Representatives, where he rose to become Speaker of the House. He served one term as Governor of Tenessee and then was defeated in two successive bids for reelection. His political career appeared over.
   
   In 1844, following Polk's unsuccessful bid for the governorship, Andrew Jackson supported Polk for the Vice-presidential spot on a ticket to be headed by Martin Van Buren. Van Buren, however, opposed the immediate annexation of Texas, which caused Jackson to withdraw his support and the convention to look elsewhere. Ultimately, the convention settled on the dark horse, Polk. Polk pledged to serve only a single term and he went on to defeat Henry Clay in the 1844 election.
   
   Although a Jackson protege, Polk said "I intend to be myself president" (p.104) and he did so. If nothing else, he was a strong-willed and decisive leader who would brook no obstacles in achieving the goals he set for himself. At the outset of his Administration, Polk committed to four large goals: 1. lowering the tariff, 2. creating an independent Treasury, 3 acquiring Oregon from the British, and 4. acquiring California from Mexico. Polk achieved each of these goals in a single four-year term.
   
   There is much to be admired in Polk's determination and accomplishment. Seigenthaler is taken with Polk the president if not with Polk the man. The trouble with Seigenthaler's account is that it gives too much space to Polk's life before he reached the presidency and too little space to taking a close, measured look at Polk's accomplishment as president, including his shortcomings. Seigenthaler is not a hero-worshipper of Polk, but he looks at his accomplishments far too uncritically. Polk almost led the United States into a war with Great Britain and he did led the country into a war with Mexico. With respect to Britain and the Oregon territory, Seigenthaler does not make clear that it was Polk who had to back down substantially from the war slogan "54-40 or fight." For all the sabre rattling, the dispute was settled under terms the British had proposed.
   
   Much more serious is Seigenthaler's treatment of the Mexican War. Polk fomented this conflict and many people during Polk's time and since, including Congressman Abraham Lincoln, were distressed at the United States's role in provoking what appeared to be an unjust and unnecessary war which was pressed largely by those favoring the expansion of slavery. The reader sees too little of the war in Seigenthaler's telling, of its cruelty, of the domestic opposition, and of the questionable circumstances under which Polk accepted the treaty of peace. Simply put, the Mexican War was not one of the finest hours of the United States.
   
   In his recent learned study of the United States between 1815 and 1848, "What Hath God Wrought", the historian Daniel Walker Howe is, in the company of many scholars, deeply critical of the expansionist Mexican War and of the manner in which Polk waged it. But Howe observes that "in the long run of history" the seizure of California from Mexico worked for "the general interests of mankind." Howe concludes that "God moves in mysterious ways and He is certainly capable of bringing good out of evil." (p. 811)
   
   Seigenthaler's book lacks a certain critical perspective in examining Polk, especially the Mexican War. He emphasizes Polk's ability to know what he wanted to do (an important achievement indeed) and to act to realize what he wanted. But he lets Polk off too quickly and too easily. A degree of reflection on the Mexican War, and recognition of its difficulty and questionable moral character would have been welcome and necessary in assessing the presidency of James K. Polk.
   
   Robin Friedman



5. The American Presidents' series has offered many a good mini-biography of most of our presidents. I've read a number of them but this one about James K. Polk by John Siegenthaler, is one of the more curious. A good political romp it is, but much is left out.
   
   Polk, underrated or even unknown by most Americans, had an agenda upon taking office and was largely successful by its conclusion. His acquisition of the Oregon Territory, California and geographic spoils from the Mexican War have been known to Americans (from history classes)for years and Siegenthaler takes time to explore and explain how and why these were important to the United States and how President Polk, often singlehandedly, had to win over friends and foes to his side. Polk left the United States a much larger country when his term was over and he deserves much of the credit.
   
   What makes Siegenthaler's look at Polk fascinating is the number of presidents, past and future, whom Polk knew. John Quincy Adams, whose presidency came from political "fixing" loomed large early on in Polk's life. Andrew Jackson, the one closest to Polk and his political mentor, figures much in this book, as he should. Martin Van Buren, a rival for many years, is prominent in Polk's life and even the hapless John Tyler, who fancied a full term on his own, garners Polk's attention. Polk had no use for the hero of the Mexican War, Zachary Taylor, whose political ambitions got in the way of his military successes, in the eyes of our eleventh president. Even Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson had connections with the Polk presidency and lastly, Harry Truman weighed in on Polk one hundred years later, commending him as a near-great president.
   
   What this book lacks is much of the personal Polk. It was understood that he was humorless and rigid, but beyond that Polk never seems to come to life in this volume, nor does his wife, the vivacious Sarah Childress Polk. It's too bad, because it would have given us a better balance to a president who, while not necessarily misunderstood, is nonetheless reduced because of personality peculiarities. Siegenthaler's attempts at discerning President Polk are noble, but fall short of the mark.

5 comments about Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy.

1. Disguised as a union soldier, Emma would risk her life for her country. Emma Edmonds was born in Saint John, Canada in 1840. When she was sixteen years old she ran away to the United States. When she was twenty one, President Lincoln made a request for seventy five thousand men to volunteer for the Army. She decided that she wanted to be a field nurse for the Union Army but those jobs were so dangerous that they were only given to men. So she cut her hair short, dressed up like a man, and enlisted under the name Franklin Thompson. Emma was assigned to the Second Regiment of Michigan Volunteers. The next day she and all the others in her Regiment were off to training camp. Upset at hearing the news that one of her friends had died in the war, Emma went to go see a woman named Mrs. Butler who lived on the camp with the soldiers. Emma started talking and she ended up telling her secret identity. After that day, Mrs. Butler became Emma's closest friend and the only one who new here secret. One day news came to the camp that a Union spy had been killed at a rebel camp. Now they needed a new spy and Emma volunteered. So she disguised herself as a black slave named Cuff. She snuck onto a rebel camp to gather any valuable information. She found out how many weapons they had, where people were hiding, anything that would help the union defeat the rebels. Once she had gathered enough information, she snuck back to the Union camp. With this information, the union began to fight. Emma became very busy in the hospital as more and more got injured. As the union reached a river, they had to stop and make a bridge across it which would take weeks. The Union army didn't have enough information to make an attack. It was time for Emma to become a spy again. This time she dressed up as a middle aged peddler woman. In this disguise she had no trouble at all getting into the camp and she was allowed to walk around freely. She found out a lot of useful information including the fact that the rebels had an ambush waiting for the union troops. She then rode away on a one of the rebel's horses. They were so impressed with Emma's work that they made her a messenger during all the fighting. For many months Emma was sent off on spy missions and was successful on all of them. Emma returned to being a nurse as the war went on. She was then struck with malaria. She couldn't go to the hospital she worked at because then they would find out she was a girl. So she decided to leave, get the help she needed and then come back. So she left and checked herself into a hospital. Once she got her malaria under control, she saw a union poster in a window. It said that Franklin Thompson was absent without leave. He was known as a deserter. Emma was upset but she continued being a nurse under her rightful name. Later on, after she was married she petitioned the war department to review her case. She had her military rights restored and received and honorable discharge. Other troops were surprised to find out that their old friend Frank Thompson was actually Emma Edmonds. Emma lived in La Porte until her death in 1898. This is a good book full of adventure and suspense.
   
   I thought it was cool how Emma was able to pull off so many disguises. Emma's biggest disguise was being a man. She was able to fool everyone, even her fellow soldiers who she became friends with, that she was a guy. She pulled it off without anyone ever asking questions. Also, there was her favorite disguise, the black slave named Cuff. She was again pretending to be a guy and she was able to come up with something to make her skin look dark. She was able to fool everyone in the rebel camp. Another disguise was as a peddler woman. Even though she was dressed up as a girl, no one ever thought that she actually looked like a real girl. She was even able to fool them then.
   
   Emma was brave and took many risks during her life. One big risk was just signing up. She could have gotten into a lot of trouble if they found out that she was lying and was a girl. And being in the middle of a war is dangerous too. Another risk was when Emma disguised herself as Mr. Mayberry. She was supposed to lead a man, who was leaking union information to the rebels, into a union ambush. If anything went wrong she could've ended up dead and no one would have known. Also, when she was dressed up as a black slave woman, she could have gotten killed. She found secret rebel documents and was going to take them back to her camp. But if she was caught with them they probably would have killed her.
   
   When ever Emma made a decision she stuck to it and didn't turn back. For example, when she decided to run away. She was only sixteen and was afraid of her dad. But she set her fears aside and made the decision to leave and she was happy about it. Another example is when she decided to volunteer for the Army. She was scared and worried that they wouldn't believe her disguise. But she made her decision and wasn't going to second guess herself. Also, when she wanted to become a spy. It was dangerous but she wanted to do it anyway. And even after Mrs. Butler tried and tried to convince her not to do it, Emma stuck to her decision.
   
   This is a great book that will make you not want to put it down. I would recommend it to most people who like biographies and adventure story. This book may not interest everyone but overall it was good.
   
   C. Chapman



2. Emma Edmonds is a young girl from Canada, living in the North during the Civil War. She's always been outgoing and bold- never able to stay in one place at a time. So when she feels a calling to join the Union army, she does what any rebellious girl would do- cuts her hair, gets the uniform, and joins up. At first she's awkward and unsure- terrified that she'll be discovered. She sees the whole thing as a big adventure-that is, until an old love interest of hers is killed in the war. She decides to really take a stand and looks at the war in a whole different way. She fights with all her power-until she gets word that a Union spy was recently killed by the Confederates. She quickly lands the job of replacement. She goes across the rebel lines, a different disguise each time, and collects useful information which helped to save many battles.
   Emma Edmonds, whom I had never heard of before reading the book, is a facinating character. How she summoned the courage to join the army I will never know. A very good book, but a little slow in places.



3. I didn't really like this book. I didn't really like the author's writing style, it was a little hard to understand and follow. The subject wasn't very interesting to me. I think that it would have been hard to try to re-create a story about the civil war. I think that the author did good on that.
   
   I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you are interested in things about the army. I think that it was cool though that a woman would take that kind of risk just to be in combat. Also it was cool that she was that passionate about serving her country.



4. My grandma forced me to read "Behind Rebel Lines". But it turned out to be an awsome and interesting book!



5. Behind the Lines is an adaptation of the Emma Edmonds story for young adults. Emma Edmonds was a native of Saint John New Brunswick, Canada who left for the United States several years prior to the war. She eventually found her way to Michigan where, following the outbreak of war, she under the alias Franklin Thompson enlisted with the 2nd Michigan Infantry. She served with the unit as an orderly for about a year before she volunteered herself as a spy, and during the course of the next year went on eleven assignments. Not only were her spying activities dangerous, but she always had to remain vigilant among her comrades as well, lest her identity be discovered. This is a very interesting and entertaining bit of history, one that is sure to interest even some of those who insist that history is "bo-ring".

5 comments about Morgan: American Financier.

1. This biography of J.P. Morgan is a yawner. Wading through this book lets you know about Morgan but you never get to know the man.
   Strouse goes into mind numbing detail on his art collection and mistesses while lightly touching on his financial deals. She follows tangents to the point of losing the reader. At times it felt as though she just strung all her notes together to make this book.
   The very rare nuggets to the understanding of Morgan are not worth the time or money.



2. Jean Strouse tries to get beyond the myths, both positive and negative, and show us the living breathing man that was J.P. Morgan and she does a remarkable job. Strouse is the kind of biographer who immerses herself fully in her subject when she writes a book and her commitment to the project is legendary at The Morgan Library where Strouse toiled in the archives for years. Her research shows; "Morgan: American Financier" is authoritative and deep. Strouse shows takes inside Morgan's family and personal life as well as deep into his business dealings. We get the full sweep of his professional and personal power; his personal challenges, demons, principles, and pleasures.
   
   Morgan was a man who was larger than life in his own time. He was the consummate guardian of the "Gentleman Banker's Code" - a Victorian notion of serving the greater good through serving the client that formed the heart of the finance culture - with some Protestant spiritual overtones thrown in. Morgan's bank, with its twin loci on either side of the Atlantic, sat astride the flow of capital between England and the US. In the 19th Century English capital investment was vital for American industrial development and Morgan helped tame the destructive competitive business practices displayed in the railroad wars where rival rail lines would squander millions building parasitic parallel lines in an effort to drive the competition out of business. Morgan learned the lesson that cutthroat competition was wasteful of investor's capital and he ever after strove to build peaceful vast monopolies. This kind of business value system seems at odds with our current notion of free market capitalism it certainly wasn't very popular with labor or with those who feared the power of vast trusts. Vast trusts were Morgan's specialty. He personally assembled the first billion dollar stock offering in knitting together the vast majority of US steel production into US Steel. He set up a host of other vast monopolistic conglomerates including General Electric, International Telephone & Telegraph, International Harvester, International Mercantile Marine, and a host of railroad accumulations (just to mention the highlights). In defending foreign investment interests he defended the dollar's value on the International market by defending the gold standard - putting him at odds with bimetallism and William Jennings Bryan. In the East Room of his fabulous 36th St. Library there is a huge 16th century tapestry representing the sin of greed. Morgan clearly thought of himself as a force for moral order among robber baron thieves. When JP Morgan died he left less than $120 million - a figure that shocked many people who had figured he was worth far more. Morgan assembled vast economic power through board voting proxies with the goal of orchestrating a smoother running economy for the profit of his clients. While Morgan did good business on legitimate business, he didn't skim or abuse his position (granted "insider trading" wasn't considered a sin in those days - if it was done discretely). JP Morgan died in 1913 a year after the Titanic (which was built by IMM - his new shipping trust; thus stressing Morgan doubly because he had friends who died on board and the disaster stood to devastate the bottom line of a huge project/client of his) and the Pujo hearings where Morgan was grilled for his role in resolving the Panic of '07 which involved a massive hat trick of capital and political manipulation that featured putting Teddy Roosevelt over a barrel and forcing him to approve a critical bit of monopolistic corporate takeover business for the US Steel concern, staunching a run on the banks, and bailing out a bankrupt New York City government - all in the same month! That kind of power scared the heck out of many and spurred the establishment of the Federal Reserve.
   
   Much of this ground had been covered back in 1990 with Ron Chernow's superb "The House of Morgan". What sets Strouse's book apart is the story of Morgan's personal and emotional life and how she weaves the business story into context with Morgan's private life. JP Morgan was a dynamo riven by contradictions. Notoriously intense - Edward Steichen, the photographer - after taking Morgan's portrait, said that "meeting Morgan's gaze was like confronting the headlights of an express train". He was also a portly man whose nose was horribly deformed due to a disease called rhinophyma. That didn't stop Morgan from having numerous flirtations and affairs and a vibrant public social life. JP Morgan was a man dominated by a stern and judging father, Junius, who dictated JP Morgan's life until Morgan was fully an adult and in charge of the banking empire. For example, Morgan fell in love with Amelia Sturges ("Mimi") and married her despite the fact that she was dying of tuberculosis and wasn't a strategic match. She died on their honeymoon, emotionally devastating JP. Junius stepped in and selected JP's next wife, Frances Louisa Tracy, "Fanny" - based on sound socio-economic factors. Fanny was shy, staid, and retiring; a poor match to JP's fiery extroverted nature. Over time they ended up living entirely apart - each one spending half the year on the opposite side of the Atlantic from the other. Morgan frequently traveled with other women - chaperoned by his daughter Louisa. But Morgan was also devoutly religious and was very active in his church's management and fiscal affairs. He was involved with selection of the pastor - a man who became one of Morgan's closest lifelong friends. Morgan's ferocious business pace drove many of his partners to work to death. Morgan found solace and refuge in yachting and his yachts are legendary (one was fitted with cannon and depth charge launchers and used for U-boat hunting in WWI by the US Navy).
   
   But Morgan's greatest love was art. At the time of his death, fully half of his vast fortune was reckoned to be in his art collection. Many consider it to have been the finest art collection ever assembled. During Morgan's lifetime, much of that art remained in his London mansion. After his death, sadly, his son Jack couldn't keep it together for perpetuity because of economic and political reasons. Morgan's first artistic passion was books. The books he brought to New York and later in his life he commissioned probably the world's most impressive private library - now known as The Morgan Library & Museum. He hired the voluble, coquettish, and brilliant Belle DaCosta Greene in 1905 to be the Library's first director and curator. Belle Greene is a fascinating character in her own right - receiving a good introduction here (and warranting her own extensive biography "An Illuminated Life: Belle da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege" by Heidi Ardizzone). The Library became Morgan's business office in his later years and the banking community nicknamed it "the uptown branch". Much of Morgan's later history - including his artful handling of the Panic of '07 - happened there. Morgan's art collecting transcended personal pleasure. Like his professional life he was clearly trying to lead and shape the United States. In amassing such important cultural holdings he was attempting to raise America closer to his beloved England's cultural stature.
   
   Comprehensive, personal, meticulously researched and annotated; Jean Strouse has written the definitive biography of an epic life.



3. A good history of not only the man, also of american politics and finance.
   The real workings between BIG Business and the men who created them



4. BECAUSE OF THE SUPERB CHAPTER ON ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PERIODS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES - THE PANIC OF 1907 - THIS MAKES THIS BOOK THE PREMIER BOOK ON THIS PERIOD IN MY OPINION. M GORDON



5. Jean Strouse, the author of several acclaimed biographies, decided to write a biography of John Pierpont Morgan, who was, in his day, America's preeminent financier. At the beginning of her project, she was intent on writing a book along the lines of "Morgan: American Ogre," but in doing research for the book, and reading Morgan's correspondence, she came to radically rethink her views. The subtitle for this book could be "Morgan: American Genius."
   
   When J. Pierpont Morgan entered banking, Europe had substantial savings which stood to get much higher rates of return in the developing markets of their day, the New World, but only if they were invested with reputable and well-managed concerns. Morgan's bank guaranteed that the companies he dealt with were reputable, honest and well-managed; by serving as a bridge between the New and Old Worlds, Morgan became America's preeminent financier.
   
   In her biography, she reports that many of the criticisms leveled at Morgan were bereft of any basis in reality, or misrepresentations of the facts at hand. Among other points she raises, she shows instances of companies where Morgan had a substantial amount of influence giving business to the lowest bidder rather than to each other, which rebuts the charges of favoritism. She explains than in 1907, when Morgan put his entire prestige on the line to stop what threatened to be a stock market crash similar to that of 1929, he was acting to save the system, and not to enrich himself as some critics have claimed; on the contrary. Her revelation that the Morgans père et fils declined to make "contributions" that would have averted the Congressional hearings that portrayed Morgan as America's "malefactor of great wealth" is revealing.
   
   Strouse has painstakingly researched many aspects of Morgan's life, from his time at Goettingen, Germany's most acclaimed university, where Morgan was urged to become a professor of math because of his phenomenal mathematical talent, to the economics and business rationales behind Morgan's dealings, to his understanding of art history and the legacy of his gifts to American museums, and into the relationships among and history between the New England families from which Morgan hailed. This is not simply a biography but the veritable work of an artisan-biographer.
   
   All the same, I suspect that Jean Strouse was so enthralled by Morgan's exceptional erudition, achievements, charm and taste - to this day his library is one of the smaller wonders of our world - that she neglected to delve into a question that may be a less fortunate aspect of Morgan's legacy. Not long after Morgan's death, a slaughter erupted in Europe whose after-effects still carom in our day. During the World War One, the British liberally tapped the American credit markets, through the House of Morgan. Morgan had enjoyed the confidence of the highest levels of the English government, as well as that of the Kaiser; for that matter, the Pope was greatly impressed by Morgan and wished him much health and wealth. As Strouse writes, Morgan had offered to lend Balkan countries money if they agreed to end their belligerent ways. Did Morgan not foresee the horrible possibility that Europe would use his bank to raise the funds to extinguish its bestest and brightest in a truly senseless orgy of violence? If he did foresee this, could he not have sought to avert this disaster? Had Strouse tried to answer these questions, I would bestow more than 5 stars on her book.

5 comments about Femme Fatale: Love, Lies, and the Unknown Life of Mata Hari.

1. I thought that this was a beautifully written book which was obviously thoughtfully researched.
   
   The story of Mata Hari is inherently fascinating, but I appreciated Shipman's decision to balance the different stages of her life, while weaving the interelationships between them.
   
   I do have one major criticism however. I did not know the complete story of Mata Hari before starting the book. The author obviously assumes that every reader already knows the end, since she spoils the suspense by referring to events that haven't happened yet throughout the book. Her decision to do this did not add value to the framing of the story and it detracted from my enjoyment.



2. I read for escape, and when I can also learn something along the way then it's even better. Shipman gives us a wonderfully written and fast-paced exciting book. You really feel sympathy for Mata Hari and pain at the horrible traps she walked into. What a wonderful snap-shot of that time in European history. I truly enjoyed every word in this book and highly recommend it.



3. So, I purchased this book at the behest of some NPR reporter or another, and I did so with my friend Amy in mind. Although not an avid reader, I will try to coax her into this book with the promise of great scandal. Months from now, I envision myself demanding the return of this book so I can read it (as I am sure she will have not) and I will enjoy it thoroughly. Up to this point though, I cannot attest to it's content. The cover is very lovely, though.



4. Book goes quite in depth with Gerta's early life in the Dutch East Indies with her husband, but it helps to understand her personality. This poor wretch is branded only as a spy by the French who wanted to spy on the Germans and being refused, trumped up charges against her. Seems she was only an exotic dancer that enjoyed men in and out of uniform. Good read, only boring at times. Recommended.



5. A good biography of one of the 20th. Centuries most interesting spys/nonspy...Professor Shipman writes a no hold barred tale of Mata Hari...The book is really two stories. The first is how Margaretha Zelle born of Dutch parents became Mata Hari...Margaretha Zelle was a woman of enormous talents in language who mastered besides her native Dutch, German, French, English and Spanish along with with the languages of the Dutch East Indies where she pent her years as a young woman married to a Dutch Colonial Officer...Marrage, an abusive husband and the hard colonial life were not for her and after a few years she divorced here husband and returned to Holland...This was the begaining of her transformation from a wife and mother to a performer and a high priced courtesan...The second story was how she got involved in espionage and spying or not...Professor Shipman lays out the "factual information" we have on Mata Hari and then leaves it to the reader to determine if Mata Hari was a spy or because of her notarity and the fact that she had been a paid mistress of some many powerful men it was best to silence her...The reader has to determine if she was an agent for the Germans, French, both or some other country, the facts are not clear...If you like an honest well scribed book then you will enjoy Femme Fatle, but don't expect the author to spoon feed you any speculative ending.

5 comments about The Avengers.

1. The Avengers may be out of print, but it's story will live on through those who are fortunate to read it. It is the true story of a small group that was part of the Jewish underground. For any of you who are not aware of the sheer bravery, the strength, the commitment, and the endurance of this band of heroes, you are in for a riveting, well written book. Don't miss this one.



2. I have read many books about Jewish resistance during World War II and this one is among the best I have read. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. The book covers the life of Abba Kovner, a Jewish resistance fighter from Vilna, through World War II and its aftermath. At the end of the war, Abba planned and executed acts of revenge against the Nazis. This is described in the book as well as Abba's participation in Israel's War of Independence. The book is well written and easy to read. It gives you two different pictures of Jewish suffering during the war. One picture is that of many of the Jews in the Vilna Ghetto.....one of fear and submission to the Nazi oppression. The other picture is that of Abba and his group of partisans.....one of resistance and hatred of the Nazi oppressors.



3. Rich Cohen has written an extraordinary tale of heroism and survival during the most horrendous and brutal moment in mankind's history. The tale of these three individuals, Abba Kovner, Ruzka Korczak and Vitka Kempner, shine through as living testimonies in the dark night of the Holocaust. You will not be able to put this book down as you race through the pages of "The Avengers." It is so well written and well documented that you wish you had 20 more books just like this one. It really is amazing how these individuals actually survived this horrible time, but they did in fact prevail and triumph against overwhelming odds. Perhaps the greatest challenge that these people faced in the end was not to end up like the monsters who had persecuted them. Rich Cohen has done an amazing and tremendous thing by writing this book, sharing with the world the incredible testimony of these three courageous individuals. After you finish reading this book, you will never think about the Holocaust in the same way.



4. The Avengers follows the life of Abba Kovner and his associates, through the horror of Nazism through attempts at revenge, and to a life in Palestine. Although I have read several books on the holocaust, I must admit, I could not bought this book down. Cohen's writing style is very engaging. Cohen makes no value judgements here; it is up to the reader to decide right and wrong. Although I think most people would have a tough time accepting what the avengers tried to do after the war, I cannot possibly judge them. I also cannot imagine living the horrors (which are spelled out in graphic detail) that these Jews went through. One is struck again and again by the brutality and sadism used by these Nazi animals.

   Although not a comforting book, I believe this book should be read by anyone with an interest in one of the most evil periods in history.




5. Cohen's story is brilliant and courageous in the way it forces the Reader to acknowledge their hypocracies with regard to terrorism. Specifically, he draws the reader to sympathize and care for Abba Kovner, but also notes that Kovner and his gang try (unsuccessfully) to poison the water supply of Germans, many innocent noncombatants, even children. In other words, these Avengers are also terrorists (if you use the current definitions).

   By exposing the grey are of terrorism/ resistance, Cohen subtly places the reader in the uncomfortable position of acknowledging a double standard between hero, terrorist and freedom fighter. While we all have to come to our own (hopefully consistent)conclusion in that regard, it takes someone like Cohen and his hero Kovener to make us realize that it is not a "cut and dry" issue.

5 comments about Worth the Fighting For: The Education of an American Maverick, and the Heroes Who Inspired Him.

1. John McCain's memoir "Worth Fighting For" is a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a great American. Whether it's gardening in the nude at his Arizona ranch, or threatening Arlen Specter with bodily harm, McCain isn't afraid to back down or change his hard-set ways. What I found especially interesting is McCain's often heated arguments with God, over things as important as the SALT treaty, or as trivial as some missing sprinkles on his pudding. Fact is, John McCain doesn't take any b---s--- from anyone, not even the Almighty! Though at first McCain's cursing of the Almighty seemed offensive, I later realized it's just one of the many pieces that make up this fascinating man. Though I don't agree with McCain's claim that he himself is "as good as, if not better than" God, I still feel that he's a true American hero.



2. I found the book missing in some critical information about Mr. McCain such as:
   John McCain has pledged that, if he and Ms. Palin are elected, he would end the revolving-door practice of administration officials leaving office for lucrative lobbying jobs Obama has also pledged to stop the revolving door if elected. He has also declined to take donations from lobbyists; McCain has not.
   
   Still, during McCain's nearly 25 years in Congress, the revolving door has remained open.
   .
   As his aides have moved downtown from Capitol Hill, they've drawn from their experience on the senator's personal staff or on his key committees: Armed Services, Commerce and Indian Affairs
   
   Here's some examples:
   
   * Mark Buse went from being staff director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation when McCain chaired it to becoming a lobbyist at two firms, ML Strategies and Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo. His clients included many companies with issues before the committee, including Northwest Airlines, AT&T Wireless, Cablevision and Exxon Mobil Corp. This year, Buse returned to work for McCain as chief of staff of his Senate office.
   
   * John D. Desser was a staffer in McCain's Senate office and was a health policy aide in his 2000 presidential campaign.
   After that, he lobbied for the health insurance, chemical, coal and pharmaceutical industries. From there, he was deputy assistant secretary for health policy at the Department of Health and Human Services in the Bush administration and has since gone back to the private sector as vice president of public policy and government affairs for eHealth, an online health insurance company.
   
   * After serving as counsel for McCain's Senate Commerce committee, Sloan W. Rappoport moved on to the Bush administration and then to K Street. Rappoport is now a vice president of the Downey McGrath Group, where he lobbies for legalization of Internet poker and for a group promoting offshore oil drilling.
   
   * John W. Timmons served as legislative counsel for McCain, working on commerce, energy and environmental issues. Since then, Timmons has founded his own lobbying firm that represents clients under Commerce committee jurisdiction, including AT&T, the Air Transport Association, the Association of American Railroads and TW Telecom, formerly Time Warner Telecom.
   
   * Pablo Chavez, a former chief counsel to McCain, is now an advocate for Google, where his experience on the Commerce Committee doubtless comes in handy. Last year, he fought off objections to the acquisition of Internet marketing giant DoubleClick and is now working on the contentious issue of Net neutrality with hardware providers such as AT&T and the regional Bell companies
   
   * David Crane, a former McCain Commerce committee aide, notes in his lobbying firm biography that, as an aide, he "developed and implemented legislative and communications strategies and tactics to secure passage of Senator McCain's legislative agenda." He has worked in three K Street firms, representing clients on financial services, homeland security and trade issues. He now runs the firm Quadripoint Strategies.
   
   * Former McCain chief of staff and Commerce committee counsel Christopher Koch is now the McCain campaign's policy coordinator. In between holding those positions, he was a lobbyist. Before joining the campaign, Koch was president and chief executive officer of the World Shipping Council, a lobbying trade group that represents about 40 foreign and domestic ocean transport companies. In the first Bush administration, he was chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission. And in the second Bush administration, as chairman of the Department of Homeland Security's National Maritime Security Advisory Committee, he helped craft port security policy.
   
   * Ann Sauer worked for the Senate Armed Services Committee and later became vice president of Washington operations for Lockheed Martin. The world's largest defense company has spent more than $8 million this year on lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
   * After working as a Senate aide for McCain, Michael Jimenez set up shop as a lobbyist. His clients include Pinnacle West, and he advocates for the Arizona-based utility on nuclear and energy issues, according to Senate records.
   
   * Former McCain legislative assistant Sonya Sotak now works for drug giant Eli Lilly. According to Senate filings, she's lobbying on issues relating to health care reform, drug pricing in Europe and an initiative to require drug companies to disclose their payments to doctors.
   
   * Robert Fisher, a former telecommunications adviser to McCain, went on to lobby for Clear Channel Worldwide and Verizon.
   
   
   Other former McCain staffers who went on to private sector advocacy include Steve Primrose, now a principal at Triadvocates, where he works on drug enforcement, environment and technology issues; Katy McGregor, who left Capitol Hill to work as a tax lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association and is now a senior director at the corporate speechwriting firm the White House Writers Group, working on communications strategies for companies in the telecommunications and financial services sector; and Victoria Clarke, formerly a congressional spokeswoman for McCain and later a spokeswoman for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. She's now a senior adviser for communications and government affairs at telecom giant Comcast.
   
   Three of the McCain-staffers-turned-lobbyists - Rappoport, Timmons and Fisher - have bundled thousands of dollars in campaign donations for McCain's presidential bid, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Rappoport alone has gathered $250,000 to $500,000, the center said.



3. Unfortunately this book which I hoped to be a biographical "chapter 2" to his personal journey after his Viet Nam stint, as covered so well in "Faith of My Fathers," this book offers only a sloppy mish-mash of this and that, which causes it to never commit to be any specific type of book. It tries to be part "Profiles in Courage" (which later McCain books "Courage Matters," and "Hard Call" commit to), part "Leaders" (by Nixon), and part autobiography, but sits as an uncommitted, uneven, unsatisfactory read. On paper this might have been a good idea - to tell one's story by also talking about that person's heroes, but in this work all these different types of works get in the way of each other. There is a chapter that goes on ad nauseum about the Keating scandal to be followed up on a piece of fluff over Ted Williams the baseball player.
   This is also probably not the bio that his supporters want us to read during this 2008 election as almost each and every "hero" of his...including his contemporaries...are all dead, which highlights the age issue. I have yet to find a classic bio on this man, but I understand they are out there; unfortunately this book sadly misses its mark.



4. This is a great book by a great man. John McCain's humor, style, and love of life are inspiring in this read. His honor, patriotism, and his words of those who have inspired him, make him one of the most inspiring public figures of his generation. He has a loving awe of what is best in America, and in ourselves.



5. When the 2008 GOP primary began, I was not a fan of McCain. I didn't dislike him. I just had a different preference. I'd always wanted to read Faith of My Fathers and read that one first. It took the reader from McCain's grandfather, to his father, and finally to McCain himself and his experience in Vietnam, where it concluded with his homecoming.
   
   This book picks up with John McCain's return home. He is atypically candid for a politician and presidential candidate. He admits faults where necessary. He takes responsibility when demanded. He defers credit where due. He takes the reader into his personal struggles, in particular the Keating 5 affair. He touches on his failed first marriage -- and takes full responsibility. The reader has the privilege of being a "fly on the wall" as McCain learns from his mentors and teachers. I can't imagine an author being much more transparent. The reader does not come away with a messianic vision of John McCain. Rather, one develops an understanding of whom he is and what influenced him. There is also much history to be learned as he explains how historical figures have influenced him in his career. I was a bit surprised by the profanity used in the book, but it's a part of who he is -- part sailor, part rebel, part patriot, part leader, part humble student, part aspiring executive, part competitor -- and full time, 100% himself.
   
   If you have an interest in politics and/or history, and want a better understanding of who this potential President of the United States is and may be as president then this is THE book. Straight from his own mouth -- warts and all -- leaving it to the reader to make their own educated decision regarding McCain's worthiness for the most powerful job in the world. You may not finish the book as a supporter -- and you may go from pro to con -- but you will have a greater respect for the man.
   
   Highly recommended.