5 comments about I Celebrate Myself: The Somewhat Private Life of Allen Ginsberg.

1. Reading "I Celebrate Myself" provides a skeleton key to Ginsberg's public obsessions, as well as his private life, as if there were whole new aspects to discover. What was there more to know about the poet whose lifelong ambitions were to find love and acceptance, as well as understanding, from his family, acquaintances, and even from total strangers?
   
   Much, apparently. Not unlike that other obsessive diarist and collector, Andy Warhol, Ginsberg noted everything that happened and wrote it all down, from the William Blake-inspired epiphanies to the failed sexual encounters, and eventually hired assistants who had the task of sorting it all out.
   
   It's a biography not for the squeamish or the faint-of-heart. "I Celebrate Myself" (Morgan's title, taken from Walt Whitman, is not without a little Ginsberg-style self-promotion) is a rollercoaster ride through much of the twentieth century, most of it in a society of underground circles and outside the pale of contemporary considerations.
   
   Early on, however, there are Ginsberg's early, earnest struggles to find a place in 1940s post-war America: the bright student (a genius!) involves himself in a round of well-intentioned jobs, enrollment at Columbia, letters of introduction to literary journals, trying to scale the walls of society in very acceptable ways. He entered Columbia, originally, in hopes of becoming a lawyer.
   
   He tries drugs with a scientific experimenter's zeal, writes unsatisfactory poetry in pale imitation of his literary models, falls in and out of love trying to make up his mind who -- or what -- he really wants.
   
   But poetry becomes the hinge that opens the door. When Ginsberg finally realizes what it is he needs to say, he finds a path of expression so direct it shocked his family, his friends, and an American public unprepared for him (and which still hasn't fully recovered from the shock, generally, fifty years later after the publication of "Howl"). Years of doubting his own abilities as a poet found Ginsberg was ready to scale the walls of social and literary convention with a force that surprised everyone.
   
   This is a social biography, rather than an explanation of Ginsberg's work -- Morgan assumes, rightly, that the poems speak for themselves. Whatever the reader thinks of Ginsberg, the Beats and their work, this is essential reading.



2. After reading "Dharma Lion" an also biobook about Allen Ginsberg which I loaned from a library,
   I bought this incredible work
   In my opinion everybody should read it, it gives a very importanted view of the American culture & history
   and for my part Allen Ginsberg was and still is a very important milestone in human history
   give this great man a statue



3. Really good biography, hard to put down, would highly recommend. A couple of thoughts on finishing (first I would like to mention almost didn't get this book because of the Amazon description, it gave me an idea of a book of charts, it is not. The chapters are headed up by years - 1966, 1967 etc. and is a normal biography) is that condensing the book to a few chapters after 1970 would have avoided a lot of repetition. In his later years it's mostly about traveling and giving readings and Peter's crazy antics and boys. (After reading yet another lament by Allen about growing old by himself I couldn't help thinking a problem could be that he only seemed to be attracted to heterosexual male teenagers that inevitable left him for girlfriends.)
   
   Two other biography's I recently finished was the very good Literary Outlaw about Burroughs the work of art Memory Babe about Kerouac, and while I am hooked on their books and think that they are our most important and influential post WW2 writers, they are still, even with fame, to borrow a title from Kerouac, the subterraneans. A fascinating cast of drug addicts, alcoholics, murderers (Carr and Burroughs), criminals, thieves, bisexuals, homosexuals, a few heterosexuals, and some truly, clinically insane people.
   
   - also, Ginsberg would be pleased to know that there is something to shock nearly everyone in the book. I for one did not feel comfortable with the seduction by Ginsberg of hundreds? of boys while he was an unpaid teacher at the Narobi? institute. I guess because this was a tantric institution it was accepted since teacher/student flings seemed to be going on with not just Allen (in the book a scandal is reported when the then leader of the college was found to be having numerous affairs with students even though he knew he was HIV positive.) Also Allen's unwavering support of NAMBA, yuck



4. There are now many biographies of Allen Ginsberg. Shumacher's Dharma Lion stands out as a particular favorite, and the book-length poem by Ed Sanders is not to be overlooked. Most take a bird's-eye view of this poet and his life. Because of his long personal relationship with Ginsberg as his archivist and bibliographer, Morgan stood closer to his subject, both personally and through his access to the prolific journals Ginsberg diligently kept from the age of eleven to the end of his life, than any previous biographer has, or any future biographer is likely to.
   
   The result is a biography whose intimacy and authority are unparalleled. For or some at least, this will be a decidedly mixed blessing. Those with a strong aversion to sexual revelation and description will be distracted if not put off, for Ginsberg was possessed of a ruthless, at times self-defeating, candor in all matters sexual, as readers familiar with his poetry will know. But, as Morgan shows, he was equally candid in all other areas of his life and feeling.
   
   He was also deeply flawed, persistently naive and hopeful about the numerous lifelong friends he made in his days at Columbia and shortly thereafter: Kerouac, a drunk Republican mama's-boy and anti-semite, whose friendship Ginsberg treasured and whose work he championed to long after Kerouac's death; Huncke, who mooched and stole from him repeatedly; Burroughs, who, for a time lusted after him, but at others was inaccessible and gratuitously mean to Ginsberg's life partner, Peter Orlovsky; Cassady, an insatiable womanizer and artful dodger, or worse; Corso, who embarrassed and abused him often; and Orlovsky himself, heterosexual, chronically unstable and addicted to alcohol and amphetamines, and not infrequently interpersonally and physically destructive. To all of these, and to scores if not hundreds of others, Ginsberg's loyalty, generosity, and his efforts to support them financially and promote their work and enhance their lives never wavered. In his close personal relationships, Ginsberg could be, and often was, a fool, but he was not a fair-weather friend. Among the flaws that Morgan addresses and clarifies was Ginsberg's peculiar and persistent blind spot for women, their strengths, virtues, and talents. Even those close to him, not rarely in love with him, could in important ways escape his notice.
   
   In fairly documenting his flaws, however, Morgan's treatment does not throw Ginsberg's virtues into shadow. His intense interest in all things human, his passionate commitment to free speech and unfettered thought and social justice and, some will be surprised, his patriotism, all come through. But what comes through most powerfully is the loving pains he took to care for others, more often than not one-at-a-time. Undivided attention, a meal, a place to stay, the reading of a poet's work brought to him for comment, his personal responses to virtually all the letters sent to him, from friend and stranger alike; Ginsberg cared and gave.
   
   Until the last very few years of his life, and despite the popularity of his books, readings, and recordings, Ginsberg was chronically close to poverty, on many occasions simply broke, and sometimes temporarily stranded. Even when his income was nominally adequate, he bought his clothing in second-hand stores, rescued his friends again and again and again, and made up the difference. As he supported his friends, sometimes over many years, he supported numerous younger poets and writers, as well as working tirelessly to benefit the many causes, programs, and institutions he cared about; he gave and gave and gave.
   
   In the end, Morgan's biography, its chapters proceeding year by year, covers the life of a great poet who was not less a man of truly heroic love and candor, a flawed human being who can stand as a model and a beacon for that which is most tender and dear in each of us.



5. Bill Morgan's new book about the poet Allen Ginsberg, "I Celebrate Myself", rates at the top of my favorites list. I was immediately captivated when I read in the Introduction about an incident where Ginsberg saw a poor woman who was about to be attacked by an angry dog.Ginsberg went to her and asked,"Would you like a fig newton?" From then on I couldn't stop reading.
   The book is full of many interesting facts about Ginsberg's life and poetry.His writings represent the turbulence of the cultural revolution of the time and this book is a wonderful testament to this eccentric and unique writer's talent. I applaud and congratulate Bill Morgan for his superb book.

5 comments about Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table.

1. I received this book during a professional conference where I had the wonderous opportunity to hear Ms. Ellerbee speak. The book was engaging, funny (Frito Pie had my husband and I laughing to the point of tears) and also brought a tear to my eye at one point (Daisy the Greek Dog). I quickly had my friends and mom read the book as well and we have all enjoyed it. I look forward to reading her other books.



2. Highly entertaining, with each chapter containing multiple vignettes focused on a particular location and the food experiences associated therewith, this book can be consumed in big bites or little nibbles and all are enjoyable. Linda Ellerbee is just plain funny.



3. Ellerbee writes just the way she speaks, and when you read Take Big Bites, you feel like she's talking directly to you. This is a book that you never want to end. It's a memoir about travel and food and friends and lovers and misadventures. She has done it all. Most of the time, she travels alone. She prefers that so she's forced to talk to the people where she's visiting. Occasionally, she goes with a family member or friend to revisit a place from their past. She's been to some places that you've never heard of but want to go to after she describes them.
   
   "Our travels are not always the voyages of discovery we say we seek, but rituals of reassurance," she writes. What fun!
   
   When Ellerbee gets together with her friends, she reminds us that, to women, girlfriends are not a luxury, they are a healthy necessity. They sit around and talk-talk-talk, and even though they are now women, they feel like girls again.
   
   Her holidays will remind you of your own and others when she describes how despite tradition, love, hope, passing time and sweet memories, the holidays will always be messy.
   
   She tells us about becoming a grandmother and says she will be available, understanding, and weird because as a mother she was mostly weird. She plans to take her grandchildren places and show them things and give them wings. We all wish we had a mother/grandmother like that. I especially related when she talked about giving her children cookie dough to eat. My girls still keep a roll of cookie dough in the refrigerator for emergency sugar fixes. And the food... She makes it part of every story, and it all sounds so good. She even provides recipes.
   
   One delightful thing the author tells us (and she tells us quite a lot) is that, "Sometimes in life, if you're lucky, you are where you most want to be at that moment." And wouldn't we all like to do that at least once.
   
   by Doris Anne Roop-Benner
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



4. Great read for people who love to travel (and eat) off the beaten path. Probably should add that it's often from a female point of view. Loved the recipes.



5. Linda Ellerbee is a little older than me but I can still relate to her view on the world. In her book, her experiences take us to far away places where she meets fascinating people. She tells of her time in Greece where while she lives as a local for a month, British tourists experience Santorini from the seat of a tour bus. I will never travel as a tourist again. Yet, she remembers to bring these experiences home - linking them with her past and present. Her "take the bull by the horns" approach to life and travel may not be for everyone, but it sure has inspired me to look at life a little differently - make things happen, don't wait for it to happen.

3 comments about Israel Through My Lens: Sixty Years As a Photojournalist.

1. I am an advanced amateur photographer who has been photographing for almost fifty years. On reading "Israel Through My Lens" there is an immediate connection between Mr. Rubingers experiences and those of any serious photographer/photojournalist. Through his remembrances the reader not only relives the history of Israel and the Middle East in the 20th century but also the very simple joy of being a photographer, getting the good shot. This is a simple story of his life and his relationships that have led to a brilliant career as a photojournalist. I enjoyed the book because I am able to feel his excitement in getting the picture. Rubinger is not a 'god' of photography, he is simply a talented photographer who clearly describes for the rest of us the fun and excitement of photography and photojournalism. All this while telling a wonderful personal story and national history.



2. David Rubinger has laid it out as he saw it and lived it. This is a VERY personal book with little if anything held back. From his youth to the present, Rubinger gives a verbal as well as photographic picture of himself and the Sate of Israel growing up, maturing and "getting on". From his time in the British army to the horrific death of a woman he cared for deeply, this book tells it all. It is easy reading yet compelling. I was carried into a very personal environment and felt as if I were at each event, meeting each person, taking part in each "adventure". David Rubinger's life appears to be a string of wonderful and not-so-wonderful experiences. And you are right there. The country comes alive through the eyes and life of this exceptional man. I have read it twice and have given it as gifts to friends. Oh, yes, I highly recommend this book!!



3. As a photographer, I loved this book. As good as the photographs are, the writing is even better. Great stories about working as a Time photographer in the Mid East, growing up in Europe during WWII, and wonderful vignettes about Israeli leaders. Highly recommended.

5 comments about The Year Before the Flood: A Story of New Orleans.

1. Ned's got New Orleans 100% - I thought he wrote this book for me! I am about the same age as Ned, live (par time) and play music in New Orleans I'm Cuban and he mentions Cuba and Cuba's music a lot in this book. Ned's knowlege of the city, the people, the culture, and rituals (yes, we have rituals in New Orleans) is phenomially accurate and instructional. He also mentions a lot of musicians that Ive played with, he has a whole section about Kirk Joseph and his tuba (Souzaphone, and great picture) I've worked with Kirk and that Tuba! If you're a fan of New Orleans or live in it READ THIS BOOK it will make you smile. I bought all his other books and can't wait to get to them.



2. This book captures so much about what I love first and foremost about NOLA. The people. The characters in these stories are what gave me hope that the return of this wonderful place would never be in doubt. It's a fascinating tapestry of the unique cultural contributions of this place that is so distinct from the rest of America -- yet whose story is the essence of our history.
   
   Sublette's point-of-view on the Bushies and the bigots, who were content to sit back and wonder if was worth it to restore America's cultural treasure, is shared by everyone I've met in New Orleans. You may not agree, but Sublette is just a musician and late-blooming author -- what harm can his point-of-view do to this profusely-documented re-telling of an event that will be remembered as the re-birth of the American Spirit. The spirit by which the people of New Orleans have re-built their own lives, and their post-flood city, by themselves.



3. Not what I expected when I bought the book - way too many cheap politcal shots and "perceived" faults which the author seems to view as why he has a hard life - nevermind that he has a degree that doesn't even allow him to teach, let alone make a decent middle-class living. The few highlights of the book do not justify the time wasted in reading it.



4. I think this is a fantastic, fantastic book. The depth of information and of a sense of the cultures of NOLA it provides is amazing. But, as the Marxist-socialist-commie-lefty-lib type that I am, I unfortunately have to agree with the Republicants posting here that his polemics, political or just cultural, distract from the narrative of the book. I recognize that it is a memoir, and not a scholarly tract. Yet when he asserts that Kerry was a useless senator who never did any good in the world he demonstrates that he has little understanding of happens in Washington (see, e.g. [...]). Further, when he slanders people who buy pizza in SOHO as "tourists" he just sounds like a pompous ass. I realize that he lives there, and that he has lived quite the bohemian life. But that doesn't mean that people who enjoy pizza in NYC are all tourists.
   
   Still, notwithstanding his irritating political and personal polemics, it is absolutely worth reading.



5. This author undoubtedly knows his subject. I learned things about New Orleans history that I never even knew to ask about. Scholarly, annotated, detailed. However, his vitriol against Bush and all Republicans in general clouds the reader's enjoyment. The author seems terribly intelligent and sensitive; he also is incredibly bitter about many things and finds solace in bashing the right at any chance he gets. I wanted to love this book. I enjoyed "The World That Made New Orleans" by this author, and though he made his political stance pretty clear there too, it was never this bad. He fairly seeths hatred in this book...and the religious right are supposed to be the haters?? For readers who enjoy a musical and cultural take on New Orleans and why this city is important, I recommend Tom Piazza's "Why New Orleans Matters." You won't come away feeling like you've just been in a heated argument.

5 comments about The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst.

1. Newspaper editor and magazine publisher Kenneth Whyte presents The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst, an engaging, lively, and aptly researched study of the life and skyrocketed career of the man whose impression and influence on the world of news overtook that of Joseph Pulitzer himself. Hearst (1863-1951) laid the foundation of one of America's biggest media empires, yet to this day his reputation remains tarred by accusations of sensationalism, self-promotion, warmongering, and even untruthfulness. The Uncrowned King is as much a pleasure to read as it is jam-packed with researched detail, bringing to life its portrait of a passionate and dedicated American of boundless ambition - not to mention a vivid glimpse of the excesses of the Gilded age. Highly recommended, particularly for both college and public library collections.



2. William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) is the most famous newspaper owner in American history. Willie's father was a United States Senator from California and his mother was a society matron who was smart and formidable. Hearst was a millionaire at birth; his father gave him the family owned San Francisco paper to operate and his horizons were limitless!
   The young Hearst spent a year at Harvard before dropping out; he toured Europe wooing and winning several fair maidens. He was eclectic in his female tastes enjoying the company of showgirls and ladies from the working classes. He married Millicent who came from show business; later in life he would have a long affair with Hollywood star Marion Davies. Hearst did not smoke, drink or spend his days in slothful ease. He was a workaholic who loved nothing more than operating a newspaper!
   This fine book by Canadian journalist Kenneth Whyte is a scholarly and sober look at how Hearst brilliantly steered the New York Journal to the top of the Yellow Press heap in the wild days of Gilded Age newspaper wars. Hearst had to duel with Joseph Pulitzer's World and several other New York Paper in the battle to win subscribers in a competitive field. We forget than in those turn of the century days there was no radio or tv. Most people got their news from the daily newspapers. Often there would be several editions published in a single days. Hearst's New York Newspapers sold over one million copies a day. Hearst would later own a large newspaper syndicate owning papers from coast to coast.
   Most of the pages in Whyte's biography are devoted to Hearst's paper's coverage of the Spanish American War. He also devotes print to various scandals covered by the paper as well as a detailed analysis of the covereage of the 1896 presidential race between Republican winner William McKinley and the Democrat's candidate the Boy Orator of the Platte William Jennings Bryan. Hearst supported Bryan in a losing cause. His paper was progressive and WRH was a devoted liberal Democrat throughout his long and colorful life. He even served a short term in the US Congress from a California district.
   This book presents a fair and objective view of Hearst; clears up misconceptions about yellow journalism and also highlights the careers of several reporters and newspaper owners who were contemporaries of Hearst.
   This book ends with Hearst's coverage of the Spanish-American War and is a solid piece of work on the young WRH's genius in making a legendary success in the tough newspaper field of his era.



3. This is the best biography ever of William Randolph Hearst. It is top-notch history of journalism in the last half of Nineteenth Century and first half of Twentieth Century. The author is detailed in his close-up of this historical figure. He shows that Hearst was sensational in his approach but not overbearing nor non-factual. He soared as a top publisher of his day.



4. Tyler Cowen remarked offhandedly in his review of The Uncrowned King that it was a revisionist biography of William Randolph Hearst. I would not only disagree but would say that the book's lack of moral judgment is refreshing and helpful.
   
   The book looks exclusively at the 3 years it took Hearst to rise to the top of the New York newspaper market. In the process, he unseated two of the greatest editors in American history, Charles Dana and Joseph Pulitzer. Whyte doesn't excuse the tactics that Hearst employed to get there, rather he explains and contextualizes them. We see that WRH certainly exacerbated the growing tensions in Cuba but no more than any of his colleagues. He had a penchant for running fabricated stories but we forget how regularly he used the paper to drive donations to victims of crime and most memorably, to fund the base of the Statue of Liberty.
   
   In the rush to criticize Hearst's excess, many authors ignore the business acumen that put him in that position. He was no Donald Trump - simply diversifying the family fortune. No, according to Whyte, WRH built a newspaper empire out of sweat and blood and energy. He may have been a rich boy but he was an inspiring leader who knew how to play to the strengths of his strange editors and reporters. It was that skill that let him take a bottom tier newspaper and turn it into the powerhouse of the most competitive city in the world in less than 36 months.
   
   The Uncrowned King is long but rarely drags. It's generally positive but refrains from gushing. Lastly, the author bites his tongue when it comes to modern comparisons and business lessons. The book is simply a chronicle of a great and often under-appreciated American icon.



5. I echo the other reviews but want to emphasize the lack of bias and in depth research that the author has done. This is not just a book about Hearst, who has been unfairly treated by history, but a book about the rise of newspapers post Civil War with great detail provided about almost all the great figures in the newspaper business from the publishers down through the editors to the reporters and illustrators.
   
   A great read, I couldn't put it down. The full sense of color and excitement of the period is vividly portrayed.
   
   For another brilliant book about the same period read "Big Trouble" by J. Anthony Lukas

3 comments about The Other Half: The Life of Jacob Riis and the World of Immigrant America.

1. 
   This book was written in Danish and translated to English. The author includes enough US history to orient his Danish readers and enough history of Denmark for non-Danes to understand the times there. While this is a biography, there is much about the first part that is generic to the immigrant experience of that time in the US.
   
   Riis has unusual drive. He survives unemployment, hunger, cold, loneliness and unrequited love. There is background about his childhood that predicts that he will be a sensitive adult, so it is not surprising that he relates to the poor and can tell their stories.
   
   Riis has tenacity not only in work (he is diligent in all his careers from planing doors to selling irons to practicing journalism in English, (a foreign language to him) but also love. He carries a torch for his first love in Denmark for 12 years.
   
   One interesting aspect of his life was his friendship with Theodore Roosevelt. It would be strange in these times to have a Police Commissioner so reliant on a reporter for advice. Another is the character of Elizabeth who must have been very flexible in spirit. Her pictures show her retaining her youthful appearance, which was rare for the times. She was raised in a castle, hardly preparation for the adult life she chose.
   
   Most of the life and actions are presented with some analysis but a few need more treatment. There is a good discussion of whether or not its fair to accuse Riis of ethnic prejudice. There isn't much known about why Riis' hometown more or less snubbed him, but author explores possibilities. The author says nothing, however, about relocating the Mulberry Bend tenants (landlords were paid $1.5 million). If they were left to fend for themselves, it should have been noted. Similarly the author says nothing about why Riis seemed to separate from his grown children.
   
   Pertinant photos introduce the chapters, but the reader needs to flip forward to see what they are about. There are two sections of glossies, and they are labeled.
   
   Overall, the book succeeds in telling the story of Jacob Riis.



2. I first read the book in Danish. A cousin in Denmark sent it to me for my birthday. I enjoyed the book so much that I bought a copy in English to circulate among friends. Although I knew of Jakob Riis, I didn't know much about him. Now I do. His life had many unusual twists and turns. His marriage was so surprising. Read the book and you'll see why. Riis is an excellent example of how one person can make a difference in the lives of many. As he lay dying, his last days were covered by the nations press. It's curious how a person, so well known a century ago, is now unknown to most Americans. At the end of the book we find out that much of what is in the book was almost lost. Fate played a big part in Riis's life. Read the book!



3. Regardless of whether you have read "How the Other Half Lives," this biography of its author, reformer and muckraker Jacob Riis, will be an enjoyable and informative excursion into the past. The details of Riis' early life in Ribe, Denmark and his obsession with and eventual marriage to Elisabeth Giortz are engrossing.
   
   At age 21, Riis migrated to America where his struggle to survive in the streets of New York City motivated his lifelong efforts at reforming that city's tenement slums and helping those who lived in them.
   
   The Riis photographs that are included in the book capture the plight of the tenement dweller but are also works of art. Riis is the father of photojournalism, and the photographs are a wonderful record of his work. I particularly enjoyed the chapter that described Riis searching through the slums at midnight for photography subjects and using primitive flash equipment to get candid shots of the tenement dwellers.
   
   Tom Buk-Swienty, the author, apparently wrote this book in Danish. Some translations are an awkward chore to read. This translation by Annette Buk-Swienty is a wonderfully crafted English rendering.
   
   I highly recommend this biography of Jacob Riis.

5 comments about Dining with al-Qaeda: Three Decades Exploring the Many Worlds of the Middle East.

1. Who is our neighbor and who is our enemy? I guess this depends on where you live. North America is surrounded by water to the left and the right so the question becomes even more complex when thinking about people from Europe, Eurabia and the Middle East. Dining With Al Qaeda is a surprisingly delightful and slightly dreadful read about the various peoples of the Middle East. Being born in England and having spent decades living in the Middle East as a reporter for various outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the author brings a unique perspective that offers insight and wise perspective (from decades of first hand experience) into the Middle East. The book also provides some interesting observations about the American perspective as well - both strengths and weaknesses.
   
   In some ways the author is like a new Lawrence of Arabia because though an outsider to the Middle East it beomes a part of him and it shows. Upon returning from a trip to the Middle East, a cousin of mine once remarked that the place "kinda gets into your blood" and I think this phenomenon has proven true for the author. The book provides somewhat surprising commentary on the perhaps lesser known aspects of social and sensual values in the Middle East, culture, politics and that sad extension of politics - on warfare. Through a variety of entertaining (and sometimes harrowing) experiences the author does an excellent job of walking the reader through the complexity of viewpoints in the Middle East pretty much country by country. The differences between Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Israel are fascinating.
   
   Moreover, if you are wine lover like me, you may find the commentary on Shiraz, Iran to be insightful. I don't think many wine lovers are aware of that grape's history and connection to Iran.
   
   I'd say the books weak spot's are the subtle yet biased comments against Israel which are ironic because Israel champions the "western" values that it seems the author subscribes to, better than any other country in the Middle East with its diverse population, religious freedoms and significant cultural output. On the other hand, the author's transparency of thought throughout the book, though fascinating, perhaps unintentionally, chronicles how a western "thinker" living in Arabic environments eventually adopts some of the same stereotypical Arab biases that fuel the long running conflict. Although this ability to get into the Arab mind, in all its complexity, enables the author to get an inside look into a range of mindsets from "the Enemy" (which almost costs his life) and to our Arab neighbors, who are friendly and open to the western lifestyle. Deciphering exactly who that is, is the tasty food for thought that Dining With Al Qaeda delivers.



2. As an American woman who has lived for 15+ years in the region, I consider this book to be a must-read for Westerns who have never traveled to the ME but are called upon to make decisions - via their votes - that directly affect this part of the world. At the very least, I suggest reading the Epilogue. Pope's primary premises are that (1)the Islamic world is not one unified mass, but rather a conglomerate of very different cultures and viewpoints on politics and religion, (2) the differences in the realities of our daily lives and what we think of as 'normal' are so extreme that it is virtually impossible for Westerns to understand the lives of the peoples in the region, (3) we continually are denied access to the whole truth about the Middle East by news agencies that are willing to print only what they believe American audiences will find 'palatable', and (4) our own governments' policies and the lobbying groups that influence them are directly to blame for much of the disasterous situation that exists in the Middle East today.
   
   The book's chapters are filled with details that can come only from someone who knows the region, the people, and the languages well. I was fortunate in being able to meet the author recently in Istanbul and was impressed with his professionalism and passion for this part of the world. His stories and perspective deserve a wide audience.



3. You don't have to be an expert to understand and enjoy the book Dining With Al-Qaeda by Hugh Pope, the former WSJ Istanbul bureau chief. The smells, dust, noise of the Turkish, Arab or Iranian streets burst from the book's pages as if through an open window of a seedy hotel, in which the reader might end up staying if he decided to travel in footsteps of the author.
   The book is a trough of sad and funny stories from the most intolerant, xenophobic and complicated part of the world. Hugh Pope makes it less complicated. He is an Oxford-trained Orentalist turned journalist, who has spent many years reporting from the region. He has a sharp eye and merciless pen. He knows the culture, customs, and speaks the languages. In by-gone days of the British Empire he would be regarded as `gone native' like T.E. Lawrence or St-John Philby. Pope's profound sympathy to Arabs is the reason his writing about them is so very credible. Unfortunately, for the same reason he loses all fairness and balance when reporting from Israel.
   Among the funny stories from Israel is one about Pope fainting in Haifa during his first visit to the `enemy territory'- Israel. Used to the misery of the Palestinians he observed during years of reporting from the squalid refugee camps of Syria and Lebanon, he was shocked to discover Palestinians having a normal life in Israel. Coming quickly to his senses (that's another story) he decided to speak Arabic to any Israeli he had a conversation with. He discovers that many Jews speak Arabic and do not fret about it. Eventually it dawned on him that Israel, while not being an Arab country, is as Middle Eastern as her neighbors.
   The discovery of Israel did not do him much good, because it led to a terrible conclusion. In his epilogue Pope proposes a solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict, and it is worth quoting him in full: "In Israel/Palestine, I believe real peace can come only when Israelis agree to fully share the country they have conquered with its native Palestinian inhabitants, that is to work toward a truly democratic, one-state solution". In other words, he proposes that Israelis give up on their independence, bring in Palestinians from the UN refugee (concentration) camps in hope that everyone will live happily ever after. This proposal, a parody of common sense, is so bizarre, that it sound like a magic incantation, an attempt to conjure Israel off the map of the Middle East.
   The problem is that there is a solution begging to be implemented. No magic incantations are needed for implementation of a one-state solution for Palestinians and Jordan, since both people are of the same ethnicity, religion and culture. Jordan is Eastern Palestine. It included the West Bank before Six Day War, when Jordan was ill-advised to attack Israel. Some fear that the re-unification will destabilize Jordan. But if the Arabs can't get along with each other, how does Pope or anyone imagine they would get along with Israelis?
   One more thing! Since, despite anti-Israel bias, Dining with Al-Qaeda is a very interesting and educating read, there is a good chance it will soon be translated into Hebrew and published in Israel. No such guarantees about translation into Arabic.



4. A superb book.
   Title is unfortunate as one either gets lured in or turned off by reference to Al-Quaida.
   In reality it is a travelogue cum political insight into a complex and often "too simplified"region ...
   Brilliant in its narratives such as the hold of Wahabbism on Saudi Arabia and effect thus on the ancient monuments around Mecca and Medina,it gives no simple solutions and is certainly an insight into Syria,Lebanon,turkey that a casual reader would be hard pressed to find.Split personality of an Iranian between visions on western TV and poetry of Hafez are well written and mesmerizing.



5. Hugh Pope's new book is a different kettle of fish from the stellar but straightforward Sons of the Conquerors: The Rise of the Turkic World, which was a great (and highly recommended) look a the world inhabited by the Turks today, from Turkey itself to the southern reaches of Russia and all the way to western China. That was a straightforward book of journalistic reportage; this is more of a hybrid, a book that focuses as much on Pope's experiences living and working in the Middle East over the last three decades as on the regions that he has lived in and traveled through.
   
   Unlike Robert Fisk's massive The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East, which is a similar kind of book in focus but far more ambitious in both scope and message, Pope's survey has no single compelling theme that sets current events in a historical context. That's a strength in some ways -- certainly, reality is hard to shove into a nice, neat little analytical framework, particularly in this region. On the other hand, it doesn't give the reader -- particularly one who is new to reading about the Middle East and with a familiarity with the issues gleaned only from cursory glances at newspapers and CNN -- much to hold onto as they follow Pope as he skips back and forward in both time and place, moving from his early adventures living atop a brothel in Aleppo, Syria, to his efforts to avoid frontline combat reporting in Iraqi Kurdistan during the American-led invasion of 2003. But then, Pope, unlike Fisk, doesn't make himself the hero of his own narrative (indeed, Pope's early discussion of Fisk's own recasting of reality in his book are eye-opening), although they start from a similar philosophical viewpoint: that over the last half-century or more, Europe and North America have tended to oversimplify the complexities of the Middle East and have remained dangerously unaware of the consequences of their often-clumsy political manoeuverings in the region.
   
   Many of the observations, anecdotes and arguments put forward by Pope are at once fascinating and eye-opening. There are some "oh my god" moments, as when he has to bargain for his life with a Saudi recruiter with Al-Qaeda, and some sobering moments when the reader gets a glimpse of the reality behind the 'glamorous' life of a foreign correspondent, as when he spends six weeks or so trapped in a besieged town in southern Sudan after he decides to hitch a ride out the next day only to find that rebels have declared a 'no fly' zone. Pope tries to shed light on the Persian/Iranian character by probing into the writings of a long-dead poet, Hafez; and writes about the irony of Saudis destroying their own Muslim heritage when they level historic buildings in Mecca in order to build McDonalds franchises and glass office buildings and malls.
   
   When Pope is weaving stories like this, I was caught up in the moment, and felt I was gaining more insight into a region that I've traveled through, at least insofar as I've been able to as a woman and a North American who prefers to travel on her own. (In other words, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Turkey -- yes; Yemen and Saudi Arabia or Iran, nope.) His language skills (Arabic and Persian) give him an edge in reporting; the reader can have confidence that what Pope writes is what he has actually heard people say, rather than having it filtered through an interpreter who may have a separate agenda. That said, Pope has his own agenda: that Americans are too narrow-minded about the Middle East, and that may, unfortunately limit the audience for this book.
   
   My only reservations come with this book as journalistic memoir. Pope goes back, over and over again, to his difficulties getting his stories on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and the compromises he has to make to make them work for his editors and readers. Eventually, these endless variations on a single theme became wearing, even for me (and I spent years running the same gauntlet, albeit not from the Middle East, and was fascinated by his look at a process I know all too well and the personalities involved, whom I also knew.) For anyone outside the rather incestuous world of journalism, I would imagine these would become either wearing, or feed into theories that the media is deliberately withholding "the truth" about the world. (In fact, in my experience, the Journal's page one editor are simply in search of counterintuitive "man bites dog" stories, and too many of the stories about which Pope felt strongly just didn't meet that threshold.) There's a case to be made that that is too narrow an approach to take, particularly when it comes to covering such an important region, but it really isn't about bias, and if that's the story Pope wants to tell, it would probably work better in a separate book. The two themes in this story -- what has happened in the Middle East over the last 30 years and Pope's frustrations with his editors and publishers as he tries to write about those events -- don't always coexist easily, and make it a less fluid and focused book.
   
   Still, Pope pulls no punches and that's refreshing, as is his point of view. He has witnessed enough tragedy on a massive scale that this book deserves a wide and open-minded audience of readers willing to think about his observations. As he notes in his brief conclusion, there are no uplifting endings -- but then, that's the reality of the world we inhabit and our yearning for a happy ending, for a pat resolution, can actually undermine our geopolitical efforts. Pope's ultimate and idealistic plea is for a kind of pragmatism that is all too thin on the ground. Perhaps it's appropriate that Pope has left journalism to work for the International Crisis Group, an independent body that does remarkable work in trying to identify the causes of some of the conflicts he has chronicled and find a way to defuse them before it's too late.
   
   This is a solid and well-written book that tells uncomfortable truths, without cloaking them in dramatic feats of derring-do by the author or splashy revelations about foreign policymaking. Anyone with any interest in the Middle East should read this, as it brings a stubbornly independent perspective and an eclectic set of memories and experiences to the mix. It's not as compelling or streamlined a narrative as Fisk's book, but in some ways may be both more raw and more honest. But it's probably not a good introductory book on the Middle East, simply because of the way it jumps from one region and time period to another, and because of the frequent diversions into the art of reporting. A solid 4-stars.

5 comments about Ghost Light: A Memoir.

1. I really enjoy Frank Rich's columns. This book tells you all about his childhood which was quite sad, in an upper-middle class sort of way.



2. To prevent a ghost to take residence in most every theater, a single light is traditionally left on after all the actors have left. This superstition is the common theme throughout the memoir, Ghost Light by Frank Rich, in which it can be seen by both the theater and Frank Rich himself as he continues to make his way through life and discover his true passion.
   The story takes place in Washington DC during the 1950's and `60's, where, at the beginning of the memoir, a young Frank Rich is having trouble understanding where he is going in life. His parents have talked recently about a possible divorce, and eventually do so when Frank is only seven years old. This shocks Frank and makes things even harder for him on his journey through an already chaotic world. As a result, he and his sister jump from one school to another quite often. As Frank grows up, he is increasingly scared by his surroundings and only finds joy in one thing. This one thing acts as a place for him to go, when there seems to be no other road to take. This place is the theatre. Frank considers this passion to be his `Ghost light' in that he believes if he continues to follow his passion, leaving the light on, he won't get into any trouble. The story goes on as Frank eventually finds himself as a ticket seller at The Washington National Theatre. As it continues, he goes on with his life pursuing his love for one thing, the Broadway musical. As he explains to the reader, "At this time, the Broadway musical was at its crest; year after year, one classic show after another made its debut on stage in Washington - from West Side Story to The Music Man, from My Fair Lady to The Sound of Music, from Fiddler on the Roof to Oliver!"
   Rich fills the memoir with writing of both wit and drama and keeps you interested at all times. On page 162, Rich's dramatic writing is shown when he expresses his feelings on his parents' divorce: "Maybe, I would sometimes wonder, she didn't want to be saved. When Mom and Dad divorced, it was not only our home that had been broken, and me and Polly, but Mom and Dad too." (Page 162). This short selection proves that Frank Rich's writing has the ability to hook in the reader with even a short and dramatic sentence. The pain that is occurring in the main character's life is able to be shown through a simple sentence. Because of this, it can be concluded that Frank's writing in this memoir can, in fact, be both dramatic yet humorous at the same time.
   At first, I had doubts about the memoir. I am not a frequent reader and was not sure I was going to enjoy the selection I chose. But after I completed it, I realized that I was completely wrong in my prejudgment. Although the topic is not usually one that I look for, I am glad that I got to open my eyes to a new subject, and stay interested throughout the story. At most times, I found myself continuously wanting to turn the page well into the night, so I could continue the story. Overall, the memoir is a great read, and I truly enjoyed it.



3. 
   Ghost Light, written by Frank Rich, is a compelling memoir telling of a boy raised in the 1950s in a suburb of Washington D.C. Telling of the childhood and early adult- life of Frank Rich, a columnist for the New York Times' Art section, it gives the reader insight into not only the life of one who loves the theater with an unparalleled passion, but of a child raised in a "broken home." He contrasts brilliantly the time period, where "contentment and prosperity smiled back at us from everywhere we looked then, as shiny as our reflections in the voluptuous curves of our parents' bright new cars," (3) with the darkened life he lived, and his growing fear of life and its uncertainty. Through in-depth anecdotes of his parents' divorce, mother's remarriage, and the abuse he received at home, Rich shows the reader how theater to him was the ghost light that protected him during his tumultuous childhood. Referring to the theater as a "shock of delight, slid[ing] instantaneously, cruelly, into memory- a pileup of double- edged sensation in which exhilaration turned instantly inside out into a kind of sorrow,"(19) we see his heartbreaking loneliness and how it was only mollified by the many shows he saw. In a time when divorce was "...said only in an embarrassed whisper...as a desperate, retroactive attempt to contain within two syllables an unpredictable series of earthquakes that had already upended the world as I'd known it." (21), Rich used the theater as a place merely for refuge from being a "child from a broken home." The theater becomes however, through his growth, a place where he can see the real world in an objective way; he can feel emotions and see how the world works without the misery of his own life. It is through what he learns from the theater, as Rich tells the reader, that he is able to look past the turbulence of his own life, and achieve the life he wishes he had.
   Ghost Light is a sophisticated read, and I recommend it only to those with the assiduousness to read on despite slower chapters and complex meanings. In my opinion, Rich's candor in showing his true anguish was the most powerful aspect of the memoir; I believe he wrote with such honesty that his loneliness was almost easy to relate to. Though having never been in any of the awful situations that he was as a child, I was able to understand the way he felt, and moreover understand the relief the theater gave him through the effect shows had on him. Rich completely reveals his soul to the reader, and the memoir calls from the reader the ability to connect with whatever misfortune is in their life and correspond to what Rich went through. If the reader can relate whatever suffering they have been through to Rich's childhood, I believe they will fully appreciate how the theater saved Rich, and learn a lesson of survival. I believe Ghost Light is so powerful because Rich's misery was not the main focus of the memoir, but a pretext to the bigger message of finding solace and inspiration outside of one's own life.



4. A very interesting read from someone who hates Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals- apart from Cats. I look forward to finishing this book soon.



5. I can't believe how much time this author spent unsupervised in NYC. Memoir? seems a bit far fetched to me.

5 comments about Good Day!: The Paul Harvey Story.

1. We lost an American icon when Paul Harvey passed away recently but Paul J. Batura's book "Good Day!" will stand as a tribute to this great radio broadcaster. This book opens the door to Paul Harvey's life that very few have had the pleasure to experience. A reader can learn a tremendous amount about the history and the nostalgic days of radio. Batura's writing allows a reader to become connected to a generation past. In addition to being an interesting read, there are lessons to apply to our own lives. Harvey's determination to keep pressing forward despite obstacles along the way is inspiring. His love and relationship with his wife, Angel, is a love story in itself.



2. Good book generally, lot's of info. BUT...there are problems!
   
   Each chapter is full of footnotes. Maybe 30-50 per chapter. That's OK, but what is involved in finding & reading these footnotes on the Kindle is almost impossible! It took me at least 3-5 minutes to find each one after guessing at what location # it might be at, then realizing I didn't note the chapter # or name (this is necessary to find the footnote), then going back to find the chapter & name, again guessing at the location the footnote might be at, let alone the problem of getting back to the chapter & page I originally found the footnote on!
   
   This whole procedure is very disruptive to the flow of the story as well as technologically challenging and a real nightmare in general!
   
   This is a weak point of the Kindle in general. But this book in particular relies so much on footnotes and has so many that it really ruins the smooth reading of the book.
   
   There is no information on the page you are reading (save the location #), no chapter # or chapter name is shown on any page beyond the 1st (title) page of each chapter (this is true of most Kindle books as well).
   
   Also, if you don't write down the location # of the page you are reading (or book mark it) you are lost when you want to return to it because the "go to furthest page read feature" takes you to the page the footnote was on which is near the end of the book!
   
   Footnotes should be denoted by the footnote #, then the chapter # and then the location #. Also, in guessing the location of where the footnote might be, it's very hard to do if you don't immediately remember the chapter # and name.
   
   As far as the content, there is much to much un-necessary description. For example, the physical appearance of a lobby in each of the many radio stations Mr. Harvey visited or worked at. Every description goes into gaudy detail of the Gothic looks of the place and have no bearing at all to the story nor are they ever referenced again. Many of these descriptions go on for many pages and are not at all necessary to the story or anything else.
   
   I got the feeling that after the 1st draft of the book was written some editor felt he could increase the size of the book 25% by adding lots of un-necessary description and details...and did!
   
   These detailed descriptions could have been so much more interesting if the words were spent describing in detail say Mr. Harvey's home or office or something that might give us further insight & clues to his personality rather than the history of where the marble used in some 1937 radio station came from & was mined and installed! There's no description or details at all about his Arizona home other than a few sentences that it existed. But loads of details about the physical looks of places that have nothing to do with the story & nobody could care less about.
   
   Still there is much good information, stories, antidotes and quotes in the book. Just super cumbersome to read being so heavily footnoted without any easy way to read the footnotes.



3. The facts of Paul Harvey's life are here--but pulled together in a clunky, term-paper style that provides little insight into the man. You will learn the details, assembled from footnoted print sources, but never feel like you really get to know Paul Harvey or what made him tick.
   
   Some of the important aspects of Harvey's life are brushed aside, such as his father's alleged KKK ties and Paul's his church affiliation. Instead there are author-initiated platitudes and conjecture. The writer went back to look at old Tulsa newspapers and then theorizes what the young Paul would have done or how he would have felt at the time. That continues into the years when Harvey became successful--with stories told from print sources and then the author adding his own praise of the radio star instead of digging for insight or what went on behind the scenes.
   
   There a number of unanswered questions that the author didn't take the time to fully investigate. There is a dispute over Harvey's actual wedding date, a question about whether his father was previously married, confusion over his wife's last name and even the couple claiming on their wedding license that they are from "San Francisco" though they lived in St. Louis! Paul also was jailed for breaking into a top-secret atomic facility, claiming he was trying to prove lax security. It is all very suspicious and Harvey changes his radio name from his given "Aurandt" to Harvey in the middle of these question-raising circumstances.
   
   There are also a number of factual errors in the poorly-written book and even some claims that can't be substantiated (like saying that the radio station Harvey worked at in Kalamazoo Michigan was "arguably the most prominent and polished radio station in the country, if not the world." (Seriously?) The author says that when the Harveys stepped off the boat in Hawaii in 1940 they were interviewed outside by a reporter "with a tape recorder strung around his neck"--yet portable tape recorders hadn't been developed yet!
   
   Considering that this book was written by a Focus on the Family employee, the religious aspects of the book are the most disappointing. We are told in a very short chapter that Harvey attended various Christian churches but it's not explained why he gravitated to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Harvey used his show to promote his own viewpoints, including numerous opportunities to praise the Seventh Day Adventists. Since that group is a non-traditional Christian denomination, it would have helped to have a lengthy overview of Harvey's beliefs. This book tells us not much more than we already knew--that Paul loved God and country.
   
   I enjoyed listening to Paul Harvey and think he was the greatest radio personality ever. But this book makes him out to be an unreachable saint instead of revealing the everyday man off the air. And that is the real rest of the story.



4. I grew up in the 60s listening to Paul Harvey on WJR in Detroit. His distinctive vocal mannerisms are unique and unforgettable. "Stand by for NEWS!" "Page 2" "Good-...-DAY!?" His brief newscasts were always entertaining and informative. There is no doubt that Harvey had a keen instinct on what interested his audience, what would get them talking with their friends, and how to get them to tune back in the next day or even the same day for the later broadcasts. After "The Rest of the Story" was going, you could hear him three times a day if you wanted: the morning short newscast, the longer noontime show, and the late afternoon or evening broadcast of "The Rest of the Story".
   
   Paul Batura tells the life story of Paul Harvey Aurandt from his childhood and his father's murder to his early entry into broadcasting, the development of his career, and his lasting popularity through the end of his life. I know that WJR tried several times to move out Mr. Harvey or change the time of day of the show and their listeners reacted very strongly anytime they didn't get to hear Mr. Harvey every time he was supposed to be on and at the specified time.
   
   The author does a great job showing us how Harvey's real words are somewhat contrary the popular image of him as ultra-Conservative. For example, most people would assume that Harvey was for the Vietnam War, but he urged its end. Who woulda thunk him for the Equal Rights Amendment or equivocal on abortion? Yet, the influence of his dear wife, Angel, who was more socially liberal and had a tremendous influence on Paul, had him support the ERA and stay out most of the abortion arguments.
   
   We learn about the long marriage of the Harveys and how Angel managed Paul and ran the business side of things I did not know that Paul Harvey, Jr. was a concert pianist and a prodigy to boot. While the book states he learned Beethoven's Emperor Concerto on his own, without a teacher, in only a few months as a child, I still have a hard time believing that. While I believe the boy did something remarkable, I think the story must be garbled somehow. Anyway, you can go to youtube and see other pianists performing Paul Aurandt's piano concerto. Pretty cool stuff.
   
   While this is no tell all book, the reality is that there probably wasn't any scandal to tell. While we all project aspects of what we want to see and hear onto media personalities, and they realize they need to be mirrors and images more than people, the reality is that Paul Harvey the broadcaster wasn't too distant from the real man. If you enjoyed Paul Harvey and want to learn more about his life, now you can.
   
   Enjoy.
   
   Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI



5. This is a very poorly written and edited book that does not do justice to its subject. There are numerous errors in fact and, unlike Paul Harvey, the author doesn't tell a story. Instead, he weaves together a collection of anecdotes. I don't know why Regnery would not even bother to have this book edited before rushing it to the marketplace.

5 comments about Privileged Son: Otis Chandler and the Rise and Fall of the L.A. Times Dynasty.

1. Highly enjoyable read--good narrative. Generally incisive, though the incisiveness is sometimes marred by what seems to be the author's class-consciousness (envy even, at least an uncomfortable vacillation between adoring and reviling the Chandlers)--and petty descriptions of physical characteristics of those he's writing about. (Kyle Palmer is constantly referred to as a "gnome" or an "odd-looking dwarf"; Buff Chandler has a "carnivorous overbite" etc.) Also, there are mixed metaphors and immature circumlocutions, though these are probably less the author's fault than the publisher's. Like most others published today, what this book needs is good editors, copy-, research- and otherwise, though these editing problems are overcome by the compelling Chandler story, and McDougal's evident drive to tell it.



2. Excellent history not only of The Times but of early Los Angeles and the not-so-angelic characters involved in the development of the City of Angels. Really makes me long for the glory days -- the Otis Chandler years -- of the newspaper. They say there's a time and a place for everything. Online journalism has its place, but I sure miss The Times.



3. The first few pages are written in a glitzy, sophomoric style that is grating. Fortunately the book straightens out into a well-researched and well-written history of LA, the LAT and the Chandler/Otis families. Otis Chandler is the most interesting person in the book, a driven, hollow man. The book misses some opportunities to delve deeper into Otis. For example, in the sections on deer hunting it comes as close as anywhere to approaching the mind of Otis, the way it was tormented by killing, and yet driven to kill. Couldn't the author have worked with this more throughout the biography?



4. When I originally sat down to read Privileged Son, I expected what the subtitle promised - a biography and a business book. What I found was that and much more. Of particular value was the history of Los Angeles as seen through the experiences of Otis Chandler's great-grandfather.
   
   Beyond Carey McWilliams and Kevin Starr, there just isn't much Los Angeles history out there. And, as the city rose from a dust bin backwater to the capital of the Pacific Rim, Los Angeles history deserves more play. Of special interest is the period between 1920 and 1950 during which Los Angeles and the LA Times really took wing. McDougal covers it grandly.
   
   But, the author does have axes to grind. His treatment of LA Times power brokers long deceased is harsh and descends to the ad hominem. There's no courage in attacking the dead - even more so for physical attributes beyond their control. It reads as petty and vicious.
   
   Yet, this unfortunate proclivity is the only downside to the book despite the personal politics that inevitably creep in. McDougal is a fine writer who clips along at a pleasurable pace making Privileged Son a terrific read. I enjoyed it immensely and don't hesitate to give it its due.



5. _Priveleged Son_ manages to hit that sweet spot that so many biographies of business figures fail to capture-- it manages to be a very good look at a business and industry and at the same time be readable and enjoyable on the level of a novel.

   While ostensibly a biography of Otis Chandler, it gives a fascinating look at the rise of a newspaper as local empire and the same newspaper's (largely unsuccessful) efforts to translate that into a truly national business.

   Without any industry focus, the story of the Chandlers and their relationship to LA is the stuff of novels (pulp fiction and true romance)-- LA grows up with its paper in this book.

   I was particularly fascinated to read what happened at the paper under the direction of Mark "Cereal Killer" Willes. His ill-starred management is a cautionary tale for would-be media moguls who fail to understand the core values that make up the news industry.

   A great read for people interested in the media industry. A just-as-great read for people who like a good story.