5 comments about More Than Money: True Stories of People Who Learned Life's Ultimate Lesson.

1. This author has such a positive outlook about life, and salutes quality and determination, throughout all his writings. Though beset with some individual and personal adversities, he remains most self-effacing; to extoll the virtues of others, about whom he writes and effuses about their accomplishments, rather than his own. A distinct pleasure to read his writings, (and to hear him speak, as well).



2. Stories of the rich and famous (mostly the rich) who were hit during their richness with a disease, usually a serious disease.
   Cavuto speaks lovingly of them, hard to say whether it was because they were rich and successful or because they didn't go into a tailspin when bad news hit. No great insight, however, comes from his reviews, or interviews, or analysis. The possibilities were there but the book fell short. Sadly, so many people do good things AFTER they are hit by MS or their child is hit by a drunk. Not to minimize their good deeds, but motivation is easier than it would be for Joe Schmoe who simply feels the need to aid the Lepers or feed the hungry or get rapists off the street. While these people took action, it took personal loss to get them off their seats, and as I said, admirable, but motivated by self. Some of what I read between Cavuto's lines is the shock that this could happen to rich people- duh- it happens to all of us and most of us don't have the means to do things about it.



3. It is very nice to see someone talk about business in a way that is touching and human. After all the huge scandals of rich business people screwing the little guy, reading about these heros is quite refreshing. It gives you hope that maybe there are still a lot of GOOD people left in this world.
   
   The stories are very personal, touching, and uplifting. I highly reccomend this book to everyone.



4. I watch this dude every time I get a chance. He's cool. His show is intelligent and balanced. It's relaxed but not lazy. He's firm but not overbearing.
   
   For some reason, one of my books is always listed on his amazon page and this one is listed on mine "The Wisdom of Shepherds." (I also wrote The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told,where my email address is displayed). I am honored that my book is connected to Neil's. I would like nothing more than to be on his show-- heck I might even offer up my controversial social-policy opinions or something like that.
   
   Anyway, Neil is the man. Watch him. Buy this book. Seriously, buy this book.



5. This is an inspiring collection that relates the stories of numerous people who have overcome.
   
   The people included have overcome serious diseases, paralysis, family deaths, business failures, and more. It included stories of well known people such as NY Yankees Manager Joe Torre and former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.
   
   Cavuto himself has struggled through cancer and Multiple Sclerosis. He doesn't spend a lot of time on his own story, but definitely illustrates that he knows how to overcome. His attitude about his own troubles is really amazing. He talks about how his illnesses have helped him to become more of a human being. Speaking of that, he said: "It's one of the reasons I tell people I'm lucky to have come down with cancer and now MS."
   
   He makes the point that we all struggle and suffer with various issues throughout life. It is the way that we deal with them that makes all the difference.
   
   The only part of it that I didn't appreciate was a section where he was discussing a Congressman who is a quadriplegic. This person has accomplished a lot, which is great. The bad part is that Mr. Cavuto goes into an anti gun diatribe while discussing it. I think that the book would have come across a lot better without that unnecessary rant.
   
   Nevertheless, this is pretty good and has lots of inspiration for those struggling with something. It is a worthwhile read.

5 comments about Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson.

1. You have to hand it to McKeen. He managed to portray Hunter Thompson without glorification or condemnation. After reading Jann Wenners sadly demeaning "Gonzo: the life of Hunter S. Thompson" I had thought it to be an impossible job. The subject matter just about demands taking a stand! Unfortunately - and I don't know if it was just my edition (Aurum Press, London) - but the book seemed to be edited in classic Hunter style: chapters pages and even sentences seemed crudely taped together. Spelling mishaps and simple errors abound. But who cares? The flaws only add to the honesty of the experience. Thank you Mr McKeen for portraying Hunter without an ax to grind!



2. Some brilliant insights here into what made the famous Gonzo journalist tick. You wouldn't want a dry, academic biography of someone like Hunter S. Thompson, and McKeen, happily, gives the reader a rousing and picaresque ride for his money.



3. An essential read for anyone wanting to obtain a deeper understanding behind the madness of Hunter S Thompson's life and writing. In fact, his life was based on numerous personas, many of which were created to uphold his public image. The way he chose to live his life, as well as its tragic end, bore a striking similarity to that of one of Hunter's greatest idols, Ernest Hemingway.
   Mc Keen summarizes Hunter's life best when he writes."He was a work beast, and it shows in the quality of anything he wrote in that period. But then came fame, and cocaine, and the suffocating persona he had created...Fame cost him the ability to lose that gift."



4. [...]. I warned you not to write that vicious trash about me. Now you better get fitted for a black eye patch in case one of yours gets gouged out by a bushy haired-stranger in a dimly-lit parking lot. How fast can you learn Braille? You are scum. HST."
   
   High praise for William McKeen from The Good Doctor using his own unique mode of expression. Thompson was referring to the William McKeen's book called "Hunter S. Thompson" written in 1991. This was the first book aboutThompson and by far the most popular, perhaps until now with the release of McKeen's new book about Thompson called "Outlaw Journalist."
   William McKeen first met Hunter in the late 70s when he interviewed him on stage at Western Kentucky University. No doubt this meet must have been an important one for McKeen who had been a fan of Thompson, and still is. "When I met him, I was struck by his manners and his genuine interest in me and everyone else he met that night." McKeen told me. Though they didn't become what you'd call "close friends" McKeen did have an impact on Thompson later on. As Anita Thompson (Hunters' widow) said "William was a good friend to Hunter" and as Hunter said himself of McKeen "He understands me." To write about a writer like Thompson must have been a daunting task but McKeen came up trumps with his 1991 account of Thompson's life, and considering HST liked it, that in it's self is no mean feat.
   
   When I heard "Outlaw Journalist" was in the works my first thought was; oh no, not another biography about the good Doctor. I was of the opinion that the Thompson`s life story had been squeezed dry, it didn't occur to me that this one could be different. I read it in two sittings and was surprised by how sharp and savvy it was. I am a fan of Hunter Thompson, I'm also a proponent of keeping his memory alive, and I enjoyed this bio as a fan, but it's also very readable for someone new to the sometimes complex journalistic style, and life of HST.
   
   This is the second trip McKeen takes into the world of HST. He leads us down a fine line between the crazy behaviour, and the exceptional writing talent of the Gonzo commentator. It's done with a skill that has eluded Hunters' other biographers. McKeen explores the undesirable side of Thompson whilst his focus is on the writing skills, and aptitude for perfection that Thompson put into most of his work. We are also shown some of the more disappointing times in his life as a journalist, like his failure (and utter lack of interest) to write about the Ali vs. Foreman fight in Zaire where he chose to float in a swimming pool full of sodden marijuana (which he had dumped in himself.) George Plimpton is quoted in the book as saying "Thompson's readers were not interested in the event at all-whether it was the Super Bowl or politics or a championship fight in Zaire but only how the event affected their author." From a fans point of view Hunters' lack of interest was a huge disappointment and regrettably not the only one in his writing career.
   
   The people interviewed for the book were the ones closest to Thompson, the ones who knew him and spent most time with him, not the hangers-on. Folks like some of his high school friends, Deborah Fuller his long time assistant, Anita Thompson, Bob Braudis, Ralph Steadman, Jann Wenner, and many more, all of which serves to tighten the purpose of the otherwise well researched book.
   
   From birth to death to blasted from a cannon. We get an ordered and honest account of his life with many details that will be new to most Hunter Thompson fans. An attention-grabbing look at how Thompson operated, disrupted, succeeded and failed. His health gradually went downhill before his own eyes and he was helpless to stop it. He conceded. Finishing off, McKeen gives a moving account of the blast-off service held at Hunter's "Fortified compound" where his long time wish of his ashes being shot from a huge cannon was honoured by his friends and family, with the bill footed by Johnny Depp, and attended by 150 guests including Senators and stars. A fitting send off for Hunter. And if this is to be the last biography about HST I could live with that.



5. I lived on the property next to Thompson in the 80's and knew him as portrayed in this book. I sold him the Pontiac convertible that is in a couple of the photos. The writing here is tight and moves along well. From my experiences with Hunter this has a BS-factor of about 1 on a scale of 5, good job.

5 comments about Mencken: The American Iconoclast.

1. I have read most of the Mencken biographies. This is excellent, bringing a lot of new material to the party. She assumes you've read the memoirs (Happy Days, et al), so if this were the first HLM biography you've read, it might seem a bit patchy. The book is 662 pages. Had she recapitulated well-known material (well-known to Menckenophiles), it would have been intolerably long and expensive.
   
   HLM's ideas go in and out of fashion, depending on how Americans feel about themselves, but his clear,forceful and eloquent style is timeless. Among other things, this book traces his development as a writer, from newspaper hack to "voice of a generation".+on+



2. Staring at the black and white photos which showed his jug ears, outdated hairstyle, that manure-eating grin and the ever-present, silly cigar, I couldn't help thinking that he looked like a doofus. Appearances can be deceiving, because Mr. Mencken was certainly NOT wading in the shallow end of the intellectual pool. Besides a grueling work schedule as a reporter, he also read a novel a day and reviewed over 2000 books. His output of written material, with much of it never needing to be edited, is simply astounding. Like many notable American legends, work took precedent over marriage or anything else. Mr. Mencken had many admirable qualities, but like all of us, other aspects of him were nothing worth celebrating. Examples such as his turning a blind eye to the atrocities of Nazi Germany as well as his narcissistic attitude when it came to women's affection for him were downright sad and infuriating to this reader. But what makes this colorful, extremely influential iconoclast such an interesting subject is that trying to pigeonhole him into a certain type of person would be like trying to nail Jello to a wall. Ms. Rodgers biography is flawless in its execution. She has done what all good historians do and given you the full measure of the man; warts and all. The overwhelming majority of people who asked me what I was reading had never even heard of H.L. Mencken. That's just sad. The man's impact on news, literature and human rights is still being felt today. An extremely entertaining and informative book.



3. Mencken was such a brilliant political, social, cultural and literary commentator that just reading this excellent biography left me exhausted and jealous. Has this country ever had another literary figure like this? Perhaps, in a few ways, Mark Twain had attained H.L.'s public stature, though I confess I have yet to read a biography of Samuel Clemons. But Twain was low-brow, while Mencken was high-brow. Will it ever again see someone like him? Highly unlikely, in the New Media environment of mimeographed sound bites, shrill blogs, shrinking newspapers, and vanishing magazines.
   
   I'm equally jealous of Marion Elizabeth Rodgers. Her research is very impressive, and though several Mencken aficionados critique parts of her work in other reviews on this site, I, as a fellow writer, am humbled by her ability to weave her massive research into a coherent, well-organized, enjoyable narrative of a very complex, conflicted man.
   
   Mencken, deservedly so, appears to have a following of scholars and others who have made him their "hobby," some of whom have written very helpful reviews on this site. What a fascinating entertainment! But Mencken and his times, as revealed in this book, are well worth an investment of time by the rest of us, the "amateurs," if only for a few weeks. The prose is very accessible, the story of his life flows steadily through a narrative arc, and it prompted me to reflect on my own life and the life of our country from the turn of the century through WWII. Aren't we all, both individually and collectively, somewhat conflicted and complicated, like H.L.?
   
   In short, we "amateurs" ought to set out to know Mencken better and Ms. Rodgers has made that task a pleasant one.



4. An excellent, insightful book, covering the "Sage of Baltimore" from cradle to grave. What keeps my review at four stars is that Ms. Rodgers could have included more passages from Mencken himself. Of course, much of his work remains in print, but in a biography of this length more selections from the man himself would be been welcomed. Still a fine effort.



5. What a disappointment. Often a writer's life presents a difficult challenge to a biographer, as the life is so often a solitary one. But there was no such problem with Mencken who seemed to be everywhere in the first half of the 20th century. Let's hope the publication of this does not dissuade anyone from attempting to write the definitive biography of Mencken because this is clearly not it.
   
   It feels as if it was written in accordance with a rigid, cookie cutter outline that allowed a chapter for every aspect of the author's life, and permits neither judgements or digressions. Redecorating his Baltimore house is given the same weight as the Scopes trial. Mencken very quickly went from a cub reporter at a Baltimore newspaper to the most famous reporter in America, but it seems to just naturally happen, almost accidentially.
   
   Also, the author is somewhat of an apologist for Mencken. The nation's top reporter missed the finale of the biggest story of his career when he left the Scopes trial early. As a result, he missed Clarence Darrow's devastating cross examination of William Jennings Bryan, when, as the joke goes, Darrow proved the theroy of evolution by making a monkey out of William Jennings Bryan. The author accepts Mencken's explaination that he was needed at the paper and moves on. Also, Mencken's German ancestry seems to be the cause of a blind spot during the two World Wars tht occurred during this lifetime.
   
   Just not a very strong biography about an author whose life almost cries out for one NOW.

5 comments about Bet the House: How I Gambled Over a Grand a Day for 30 Days on Sports, Poker, and Games of Chance.

1. First, let me preface this by saying I know nothing about Richard Roeper. I've never seen any of his movie critiques or read any of his other books. I bought this book strictly for the gambling angle, as I love reading almost anything involving gambling. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and could easily picture myself in the same situations as Mr. Roeper. The portion on the dog track was particularly amusing.
   
   That said, I had to keep asking myself what the point of it all was. He said something about an experiment, similar to "Super Size Me". However, in "Super Size Me", I think the experimenter was trying to prove some points with his experiemnt, the biggest one being that people needed to see what could happen to a person after 30 days of eating such awful food. In reading Mr. Roeper's stories, I got the sense that most of this experience was nothing new to him and that the "experiment" was just an excuse to gamble for 30 days and write about it so that he could make back his wagers. What was he really trying to prove here?
   
   I also felt like Mr. Roeper ran out of gas toward the end of the 30 day period, as I felt shortchanged by the last few chapters in the book. There was really no "climax" to speak of, no major "wow, look what has happeend to me after all of this" moment, nothing like that. It was just a guy who said he would wager a certain amount per day.
   
   I was also a little disappointed with his treatment of games he didn't care for throughout the book. For instance, take what he called "gimmick games". If the book is supposed to describe your experiences down a wide variety of these gambling paths, then talk about each of those paths and your experience with them. Don't cop out with "I tried it, I lost, and I'm done with it". If your baccarat experiences were boring, then tell us a little more about why than just that "they were boring". For a man who makes his life critiquing the experiences of others on the big screen, he sometimes doesn't describe his own terribly well.
   
   Bottom line: An entertaining read for non-gamblers and Roeper fans, a somewhat annoying read for fans of gambling itself. One thumb up.



2. Yes, this is the same Richard Roeper who's the movie critic on TV. Who knew who he's also a foul mouthed degenerate gambler too? In this book, he explores and explains just about every single form of gambling out there: poker, craps, slots, sports betting, and even the state lottery. I think the only thing he didn't try was Mah-Jong! For the non gambler, he gives good insight into each and he provides entertaining gambling stories. For the gambler however, there's really nothing new here. I'm a poker player and love Vegas so I have gambled (however little) on every form of gambling mentioned in the book. For me, the book was a little boring. Admittedly, I only made it halfway. There was nothing in there that I haven't either experienced myself, lived vicariously through other gambling friends, or read about elsewhere. I did like his top 10 list of favorite gambling movies and how he touches upon the governmental hypocrisy of gambling. Running an office pool on the Super Bowl is illegal but the state is allowed to run lotteries and casinos?



3. Honestly it's been a while since I have sat down and read a book all the way through. I heard about this book on the Howard Stern show and since I gamble from time to time, I figured I could relate to it and maybe learn a thing or two. After reading it in just 5 hours, I am hooked on reading again. Richard does a great job of keeping the readers attention through anecdotes and fun facts about gambling all while crusading through his quest of gambling at least $1,000 a day. Anyone that enjoys to gamble, thinks they have a shot at the lotto, or just likes to be entertained should pick this one up. Great read front to back and I am now hooked on the Roeper mindset. Two thumbs up!



4. I do like Richard Roeper and his writing. He has a very good talent for finding the common sense answer to a lot of problems that people argue endlessly about. In betting the house he does show a lot of different styles of gambling and does give the reader a graphic accounting of how gambling has infiltrated the entire realm of the American landscape. Everything from Vegas, to sports gambling to various card games and beyond is portrayed here.
   
   While I did enjoy the book I will say it has one great weakness. In no way does Mr. Roeper speak of any downside or societal cost to gambling. In his world, not his view but his world, gambling is something he can take or leave and just an entertaining lark. Even a small amount of commentary on the costs of gambling would have made this book much more entertaining.



5. I don't play games of chance, and am not particularly knowledgeable about them. I'm also not into sports, and know little of their rules and players. I do however like Roeper's writing style, and was curious to see if I would enjoy a book by him on a subject I have little interest in.
   
   In short, I did. While there were sections of the book that made me go glassy eyed where he goes into a play-by-play description of whatever card game or sporting event he's wagering on, in general this title was not so technical that I felt completely befuddled the majority of time. The author's writing style is easy to read and interesting, and I felt that I did gain some insight into a world I know very little about. Roeper did a good job in my opinion of illustrating both the allure and downsides to having the life of a gambler, and in an interesting way. I can't say that this title did anything to change my opinion of this activity. I had no desire to try my hand at poker or 21 at the Riverboats or online games before I read this, and I certainly don't now. But I do feel that I understand those that do a bit more, and I was entertained in the process.
   
   There were some downsides to the book for me, however. The baffling play-by-plays, while certainly not the majority of the text, were still enough to stall the flow of the reading. He uses gambling jargon throughout that while certainly appropriate in context, left me confused. I understand that this is probably unavoidable given the theme of the book, but it was still a drawback for me. And now I know that Roeper hates Keno because it is has bad odds, but I still have no clue what Keno actually is, aside from being a form of gambling one can do in Las Vegas.
   
   In short, I would recommend this title to other non-gamblers like myself. It was largely understandable despite my profound lack of familiarity with the subject, and a fun read that gave me a better insight into something I knew nothing about. I feel that my gamble of buying this book certainly turned out to be a winning hand.

5 comments about All Things at Once.

1. Nice writing style, interesting life story, enjoyed it. If your a fan of Morning Joe Or Mika buy it!



2. Other people have written about Mica's rock-solid belief that women must have a marriage, children and a career in their twenties, rather than later. Even with enless money to pay for round-the-clock baby sitters that belief does not turn out well for the author, although she never admits it.
   
   I have another huge problems with the book. Mica as the youngerest child, and only girl must have had a tough time when she realized she was not as smart and talented as her famous parents or her older two brothers. She learned to lead with her own strong qualities: wit, a sense of the absurd and an ability to mediate. Those quality help with her family & at work. But, it takes a very long time for success to arrive in her chosen profession, on-air TV news and chat. Mica keeps comparing herself to her beloved mother who sacrificed her art to raise the family full time while her husband served for four years as Carter's national security adviser, and a professor before and consultant after.
   
   I did not understand the comparison. Her parents were famous for their meaningful careers.
   Mica's career was minor league, despite a loving, supporting husband and the means to pay people to be (often) a nearly full-time mom to her kids. Did Mica ever stopped and realized that she may have her parents drive, but lacked many of their other qualities that made them successful? I spent so much time writing this review because in almost every chapter we learn about how much her mom gave up in life (her art) to raise a family. Did her mom have one flaw, even a minor very small flaw? In her marriage, it's the husband who makes most of the sacrifics.
   
   I hope Mica continued success with "Morning Joe," but I lived her better and had more respect before I read the book.



3. Book is fantastic. Very good writing, with depth knowledge of the subject. I recommend to read by all Amazon readers.



4. I had the opportunity to hear Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe speak at the More Reinvention Convention in DC a few months back. Down to earth, though provoking and humorous, I was compelled to read her book All Things at Once. It's interesting when you look at people on TV, it seems so surreal. You never quite picture the struggle they went through to get where they are.
   
   Mika Brzezinski fired? We all have those low points in life when, not only are we not at our best, but when we stretch ourselves so thin for our jobs. Sometimes we don't realize that everything we worked for can be taken away at the blink of an eye. Ms. Brzezinski's struggles while unemployed, parallel the real life struggles that so many unemployed people are going through today - the loss of identity, the low self-esteem and the affect on the family.
   
   I especially liked her comparison of a bad job to a bad boy friend - constantly saying yes to every request, never saying no. It's important to stand up for yourself at work and not be used by the company to which you have devoted all of you time and effort.
   
   The lesson that I particularly liked for Ms. Brzezinski's book is the concept of taking a step back to move forward. Professionals always think it's a constant forward motion in their careers, not realizing that sometimes stepping back into a lesser position will move you forward more quickly and with better results then a constant forward motion.
   
   Everyone will take away something different from the book. Some readers will actually focus on her Morning Joe performance. There are some who will read the book and focus on her apparent inability to take care of her children without the help of nannies. It's true that she is probably not the best mom, but if we punish every bad mom for being a bad mom, we'd have a whole lot of punishing to do. There are some that will focus on her rich parents and hold it against her. However you read the book, you will interpret it based on your own sense of values. I looked at the book as a career journey and found it to have insightful moments.



5. What a disappointment this book is! I get a real kick out of Morning Joe and thought I would really like Mika because of her very strong opinions and the way she keeps Joe, Willie, Barnacle and the rest of them in line. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Fueled by constant whining about how tired she was, the book is numbingly repetitive. To her credit, she's a very hard worker and seems to have married the world's most perfect man. I happen to agree with Mica that women should marry and have children while they're young. But Mica is living proof that you can't have "All Things at Once" and that she should have put her career into low gear while her kids were young. To call this book a "self help" book is a joke.

5 comments about Finding My Voice.

1. Already a fan of The Diane Rhem show, I found her book to be interesting and I was amazed to learn that
   this talented interviewer began with a part-time job
   taken after her kids no longer needed close care. Her natural sense of fairness in conducting interviews is apparent. Listening to her show on NPR is part of my daily routine, and I find I enjoy it even more after reading her book.



2. Diane Rehm has had a fascinating life and has a great writing style. Very enjoyable.



3. I had no idea about how much she went through in her younger years and her unexpected (untrained, etc) career in radio. I found every detail interesting, but I am a fan of her radio show.
   
   She talks about her Arab roots, rough family life, voice problems (which everyone wonders about), journey from SAHM to radio star and much more.



4. Diane Rehm is full of herself. During her long career at WAMU, she managed to amass so much power that she raised the money to make her own show national then she was able to hire her own boss, the former president of WAMU who turned out to be a disaster for the station and was forced to resign in disgrace. Now that we are celebrating her 30 year anniversary on the air, it would be a good time for her to resign. The station refers to her medical condition and wretched voice as a "disability". A radio host with Spasmodic Dysphonia is like a blind taxi driver.



5. interesting to put a background to a radio host that I have listened to for years.

3 comments about Katharine Graham's Washington.

1. for me it's very interesting book and in Italy very difficult to find it. Thank you very match
   
   alessandra pinello



2. After reading Graham's personal history I was dissapointed that there was nothing else written by her. This book fufills that dissapointment. She provides all sorts of views about Washington even though she doesn't agree with them all. There are articles written by Nancy Reagan, Henry Kissinger, Alice Roosevelt, and many, many more. A great read for anyone interested in Graham or Washington.



3. I am not completely finished with this book, but wanted to post a review urging all who are interested in the history of our country to read this.

   Mrs. Graham has gathered articles from many people associated with the govenment and also some who were natives of Washington and in the social scene. Some were White House employees. She has written an introduction to each article which is helpful.

   There are many interesting stories never seen before. I especially liked the articles of behind the scenes preparations for the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939 by White House employees. Eleanor Roosevelt's article is different than the one she has in her book as it does not include the stop at Hyde Park.

   Mamie is presented as a difficult taskmaster by the White House seamstress. All good reading.

   I don't know if young folks will enjoy this book as much as I did, but they should give it a try.

   Only objection. There were not enough pictures!

1 comments about Very Truly Yours, Nikola Tesla.

1. Very informative as to the way Tesla expressed himself concerning his works, he was a very eloquent speaker as well as an electrical genius.

5 comments about George, Being George: George Plimpton's Life as Told, Admired, Deplored, and Envied by 200 Friends, Relatives, Lovers, Acquaintances, Rivals--and a Few Unappreciative ....

1. George being George is one of those rare books that you want never to end. It is filled with witty anecdotes, about a man with a wide circle of friends of all kinds. One gets the feeling that was one of those rare, free spirited, genuinely nice sorts, that there are too few of. It also is a history of the times and places he went. He seems to have been generous to the end, and given his time to friends without strings. We also get a peak into the literary seen of the time.



2. Who cares? He had it handed to him on a platter. Where's the story when there is no struggle; where's the character? Everyone loved George. Great. Yawn. He waltzed through the golden gates without the slightest effort, yet he created nothing. Good for him that he had fun; good for him that he enjoyed his life. It just doesn't make for compelling reading, except, of course, for those involved. And that's exactly who this book is for. The rest of us? The lives of artists make for much much better reading.... If you knew and liked George Plimpton, you'll probably like this book.



3. Plimpton was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and proceeded to spit it out and make a fun, fascinating life out of friends, ideas and fireworks



4. For those who didn't catch his wave, George Plimpton was, for forty years, the celebratory firework of the New York arts scene. Born to New England blue bloods, flunked out of Exeter, graduated from Harvard, he co-founded the premiere literary journal, the Paris Review in 1953 and nourished it like a child for fifty years. Friend of Norman Mailer, pal of Andy Warhol, he is perhaps best known for living the dream that we all aspired to. He played football with the Detroit Lions and lived to write about it. He sparred with middle heavyweight champion Archie Moore...and lived to tell about it. He traveled to Zaire with Muhammad Ali, played tennis with Martina Navratilova, conducted Lenny Bernstein's New York Philharmonic, and orchestrated the Brooklyn Bridge centennial fireworks display, and wrote about it all. Being invited to Plimpton's legendary parties was a mark of having arrived on the New York literary scene--Zac ask your friend Elizabeth Wurtzel, she will confirm.
   
   George, Being George is a curious form of biography. It consists of oral recollections collected from over 200 friends and acquaintances, nearly all accomplished writers or cultural icons. The editor, a literary lion himself, has plucked, trimmed and arranged them into a narrative. The subject himself used this artifice to capture the aura of Warhol's creation Edie Sedgwick, also Truman Capote. It is interesting and particularly effective to turn this artifice back on its progenitor. Perhaps that is because George Plimpton was such a great raconteur and entertainer. Whatever the reason, the literary device works. The book feels like the heady chit-chat that might have occurred at one of Plimpton's parties. You are there.
   
   I learned two things. The Paris Review owes its founding to the CIA, though Plimpton did not know this for decades. In the years immediately following the War, Peter Matthiessen, another co-founder, was a CIA agent stationed in Paris. Matthiessen was assigned to keep tabs on communist inroads into the Paris intelligentsia, including US expatriates. What better cover than to pass as editor of a small start-up avant garde literary magazine? In addition to the editor, the money for the start-up came from the CIA via a foundation established to promote democratic principles in newly liberated Europe. Plimpton was an unwitting accomplice; he didn't learn the truth of the matter until Matthiessen told him, twenty years later. The truth put a brief strain on their relationship.
   
   The other thing I learned is that one type of heart attack can be caused by a massive, uncontrolled rush of adrenalin. The adrenalin causes the heart to beat irregularly. If you are asleep or otherwise oblivious, you can die if you do not get the heart to return to regular rhythm. This is the most common mechanism for people who die in their sleep.
   
   I wouldn't read this book unless I already knew and cared about George Plimpton. If you are interested, read "Paper Lion", which was made into a film and was a fantastic success in its day. Then read "The Man in the Flying Lawn Chair." Then read this book, to understand the man behind these wonderful creations.



5. I thought this book was a fun read. Plimpton was a very interesting man. I'm pretty sure I read one of his amateur-pro books about 20 years ago, probably Paper Lion.
   
   It was interesting to see how connected he was to so many facets of New York society and to learn about his work at the Paris Review. The most captivating part of the book for me was hearing about how he could get along with pretty much anybody, was one of the best impromptu public speakers, and the way he had an unusual way to talk. I want to see him speak - I'm going to check out YouTube and see if I can find something.
   
   The oral biography structure was a bit frustrating, because you want to get a flow going and the excerpts were too small to allow for it. But I think it was entertaining nonetheless and the ending had me in tears. Very touching. I would have loved to have known this man.

5 comments about William F. Buckley Jr.: The Maker of a Movement.

1. While I was sleeping, William F. Buckley Jr., was, almost single-handedly, hammering, sculpting, welding and bolting together the foundation of the modern conservative platform.
   
   Buckley takes his place in the pantheon of those shoulders we stand upon.
   
   Edwards is concise and powerful.
   I also enjoyed his "Goldwater" biography.
   I think I'll also read his, "Essential Ronald Reagan."
   
   Here on the cusp of an impending ideological earthquake, think of the foundations of liberalism as the collapse and destruction of Haiti.
   On the other hand, think of the sound foundations of Conservativism, thanks to William F. Buckley, Jr., as the resilient structures of Brazil.
   
   "Not bad. Not bad at all."
   --- President Ronald Reagan ---



2. "We must do what we can to bring hammer blows against the bell jar that protects the dreamers from reality." William F. Buckley
   
   Lee Edward's book introduces us to the life and ideas of William F. Buckley Jr. He attempts to explore the life of a man defined by his complexity, nuanced thought, humor, faith and a passion for life but offers us only fleeting glimpses. This 191 page book is written more like an informative time line, then an attempt to reveal "the father of conservatism."
   
   Edwards does a good job in the limited space he allows himself to recreate the cold war context in which Buckley was developing and executing his various approaches to political thought. He also effectively sketches how Buckley galvanized the ideas of the different approaches to conservatism into a powerful political movement. Edwards, overall, creates a solid outline of Buckley but rarely gives us the depth of his trademark intellectual dexterity and passion for ideas.
   
   This would be a solid jumping off point for anyone looking to get an introductory sense of Buckley, a true renaissance man of political ideas. For me, watching Buckley engaged his guests on Firing Line gives you a better sense of the multifaceted intelligence, humor and vitality that made up William Buckley and are missing from this book. This You Tube clip with Noam Chomsky in 1969 gives a sense of Buckley [...]
   
   Perhaps Edwards simply wrote too small a book for so large a man.



3. An informative brief review of the contributions of William F. Buckley, Jr. to the development of the conservative movement in the latter part of the 20th century. Written by the dean of historians of the conservative movement, the author was a personal friend and fellow warrior in the political and ideological battles described in this important book.



4. William F. Buckley was perhaps the most influential American journalist of the latter half of the twentieth century, and his impact on our politics was immense. Lee Edwards chronicles Buckley's life in this volume.
   
   The author begins by describing Buckley's early years, including his upbringing and years at Yale, and then moves on to the 1950s, when Buckley built the conservative movement. He discusses the founding of National Review, and discusses how Buckley united the different factions of conservatism under one tent. Conservatism necessarily maintains a healthy tension between authority and tradition on one hand and justice and freedom on the other, and Edwards discusses the "fusionism" that Buckley used to unite traditionalists with more libertarian conservatives, while at the same time reading the Birchers and Randites out of the movement.
   
   Edwards traces Buckley's life and magazine as they became more influential in American life from the 1960s through the 1980s, discussing the Goldwater nomination, Buckley's candidacy for mayor of New York City, Ronald Reagan's election, and the ultimate victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War. The book recalls the famous Blackford Oakes spy novels and closes by discussing Buckley's commentary on the War on Terror of the past decade.
   
   All conservatives would enjoy this book, but younger conservatives who want to learn more about the history of their movement would especially profit by reading this short biography of one of the giants of recent American life.



5. Lee Edwards has hit a home run once again, this time with the fantastic bio of William F. Buckley. Edwards does a supurb job of capturing all the best in the life and times of the founder of the modern day Conservative movement. This book is a great look back for those of us who grew up with WFB and serves as the perfect introduction to Buckley for the younger generation who did not grow up on NR and/or "Firing Line". Kudos to Edwards for another well written biography!