No comments about The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 2: Printer and Publisher, 1730-1747 (Life of Benjamin Franklin).

5 comments about A Writer's Life.

1. Mr. Talese manages to put the biggest portion of his life out in the open but it is so much a part of why he writes that a reader can easily miss its import. He was given a good home but was isolated as a child from his own parents due to their private and exclusive pairing. They had such a closeness that their two children felt invisible as children. Extremely so, although his ties to his dad bring the father's character through. Not so the mother, whose time is taken up by her talkative clients, to whom she sells oversized dresses. So, there is a matter-of-fact rendering of what is, at heart, a rather insulting and strange situation. His private life was very public. He compares his mother to a movie star in looks, but little else is seen or known about the woman, and the mothering side of her may have been nonexistant. She seems to have related to everyone but her children. They lived above the tailoring shop and he cannot recall a meal that was not intruded upon by his father or mother's clients. The clients were the basis of the family's income, and were catered to. Some were demanding. His dad had wanted to be a monk and was a devout, religious man, so one wonders... He renders his mother as a business woman, first, last, foremost, and as a preppy oldster, but she is either not understood or there is not a lot to her to understand. He developed a natural desire to shine outside the home, I think to find his identity. And, yet, he is not complaining in this book, but it is an odd position he describes. He has managed to make an interesting life, and I am interested in reading his other works where he identifies with outsiders. I think he understands them.



2. I had trouble reading this book. I didn't finish it. It seems plodding and takes forever to get to the point. Lots of long long run-on sentences. There were entire paragraphs that were one sentence long! My attention span is not that long. I admit I'm no intellectual, maybe that's the problem. I read his Brooklyn Bridge book and enjoyed that very much.



3. Gay Talese is obsessed with restaurants and procrastination. This book is a pastiche of articles he's never managed to write and thoughts he's never been able to previously tell. In a sense, Talese is a failure for never getting the four main stories of this book (the history of race relations in Selma, Alabama; the Lorena Bobbitt case; Ying Liu's missed penalty kick for China in the 1999 Women's World Cup; and the story of ten failed restaurants at a certain upper east-side locale) published as long magazine articles. In another sense, however, Talese must be praised for fusing four unrelated stories into a whole (five if you count the autobiographical narrative). Every so often Talese drops a reference that links his stories, and shows what they have (roughly) in common. This is how the book is structured. Here and there Talese mentions how he organized an article or what he was thinking about while he was performing an interview. Other than these brief glimpses into his mind as a writer, we don't learn many details about the craft of writing. What we do get is a broad persepctive on what it was like to live the "life of a writer" over the past 20+ years, as Talese has followed these stories -- past publication deadlines, through New Yorker magazine rejections, and finally to this (overdue) book. we don't learn much about Talese's pieces that have actually been published. Once or twice he mentions a previously published article, but, for the most part, the book doesn't talk about technique or methods he had successfully employed for past successful articles. (Here I'm thinking it would have been nice for him to briefly describe the comings and goings in his mind while he was writing some of the long articles forwhich he is famous, namely "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" and others.)
   
   Overall, a good book. If your a fan of Talese, this is a must-read.



4. I listened to Arthur Morey (very engagingly) read this book on CD while I commuted by car or bicycle, ran or just walked the dog. It's that kind of book and no more. Your mind can wander and pick up the thread in no time. Talese is an interesting, shrewd, charming, moderately wise and becomingly modest man in his early seventies. I doubt that Nan Talese--his tough-minded editorial wife--approved the needless repetitions and the loose organization. Yet the reader comes to appreciate how Talese was able to approach and ultimately master the more disciplined works of his earlier years about the New York Times, where he once was a reporter, or the Mafia. Anyone considering free-lance journalism as a profession should read this book. Talese is no genius, but he has proven over time that he has what it takes.



5. As others have pointed out, this book seems to have been written to tie together numerous unfinished pieces rather than to capture Telese's life. I'm glad the effort ended up the way it did; otherwise, years of his time and numerous entertaining story lines would probably not have found their way into a book. Yes, the book is rather circuitious. No, that does not detract from it nor make it boring. To the contrary, Talese brings seemingly mundane subjects alive. The trials and tribulations of the 63rd St restaurant made for particularly fascinating reading. Makes me want to go there right now and check out the latest culinary attempt.

2 comments about Against The Grain.

1. Geoffrey Nyarota is an unbelievably experienced man. His stories bring shivers down your back and tears to your eyes. He has been through more than most people can imagine. His artful language skills portray a wistful look at Zimbabwe, where this man longs for the country he loves.
   
   Beautifully written, brutally honest...
   6 stars out of 5.



2. Geoffrey Nyarota started off his career as a teacher in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe in the 1970's. He describes firsthand the brutalities civilians endured and those he himself experienced at the hands of both the security forces of Ian Smiths government and ZANLA guerrillas fighting in the area where he taught. The intensification of the war forced the closure of many schools resulting in him embarking into a career in journalism. Having the unique experience of being a black journalist in the white dominated media of Rhodesia provided him with the necessary experience and qualifications allowing him to rise to the top of his field post-independence with postings as Editor of the Manica Post and most notoriously the Chronicle of Bulawayo. He gives insight into the extremely difficult situation he found himself in as Editor of the Bulawayo Chronicle during the Gukurahundi massacres, facing the dilemma of risking personal safety and telling the public a story that needed to be heard. As a youth growing up in Zimbabwe in the 1980's I personally feel one of Mr Nyarotas greatest achievements was his exposure of corruption in Robert Mugabe's government through the Willowgate car scandal and resultant Sandura Commision. An extremely brave act fuelled by his belief in freedom of the press and his uncompromising tenacity in pursuit of the truth, these unfortunately were not seen as admirable qualities by his superiors and cost him his job as Editor.
   Mr Nyarota continued in his fight to expose corruption and fraud as founding editor of the Daily News, an independent newspaper and a breath of fresh air to us Zimbabweans for years force fed government propaganda through the state controlled media. The odds were stacked heavily against the Daily news however it persevered and won a few battles but unfortunately the Government won the war forcing closure of the paper and Mr Nyarota into exile.
   The book is unique in that although autobiographical, it covers important periods of Zimbabwean history by a resident Zimbabwean, most recent works charting the rise and decline of Zimbabwe have been penned by non-blacks and foreigners. He follows the transformation of notorious Zimbabwean politicians and military figures from their student and liberation war days to their rapid accumulation of wealth and power post-independence. He gives recognition to Zimbabwean heroes snubbed and forgotten after having fallen out of favor with ZANU PF such as Dzinashe Machingura and Willie Musarurwa to name a few. Unfortunately his accounts are not always chronological and at times he digresses, however his experiences of Zimbabwean politics, politicians and society coupled with his good sense of humor make the book in general very interesting to read.
   Very importantly, he highlights the grave dangers African journalists and their families risk in pursuit of the truth, the repercussions being more harsh and brutal than western journalists protected by their respective governments.
   My hope is that his story does not end here and that he will return home soon to continue uncovering the truth.

5 comments about Hello to All That: A Memoir of Zoloft, War, and Peace.

1. Author put his heart and soul into this memoir & it shows on every page.
   
   He not only went over to war-torn Sarajevo to pull himself out of his own deep, dark pit, but perhaps to do some good--if at all possible.
   
   It does get to you--on an emotional level & I've had to put the book down for a spell from time to time to collect myself; it is that touching.
   
   John Falk was truly the exception (to so many other journalists) who went over there for their own self-gain: ratings, a boost to their career & whatnot, never really giving a damn that the people of Sarajevo were under seige by the Chetniks and were being picked off like ducks in a shooting gallery (while on a desperate, daily quest for food, water and wood (to keep warm during severe winter months) He did what good he could do over there. No, he didn't stop the war, but he did enough; he did a lot more than a whole lot of other journalists, while battling his own demons.
   
   To reveal it here, might spoil your reading experience, so we won't say anything else about it.
   
   The other thing I did not fully understand regarding war correspondents who were over there (until I read this book) is that they had, pretty much, total freedom--at least to fly in or out of the country. So long as they had access to some money, these journalists could hop on a plane and fly to Italy, or wherever--to load up on great chow and drink--and then return to Sarajevo, where people were literally starving.
   
   I find this infuriating. This explains why the foreign correspondents always looked well-fed and nicely dressed. Hell; why not?
   They didn't have to scrounge around for food and/or water (and risk getting shot--well, some did get shot and even died over there, still...you get the pocture: they could hop on a plane whenever they wished and fly to Germany, Italy, France, etc., etc. stuff themselves silly and return to Sarajevo where misery prevailed for those trapped in the city and WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE)
   
   And the U.N? Forget the U.N--who pretty much made the suffering all the more possible.
   
   The only reason I did not give it five stars (which ordinarily I would have) is because the memoir would stay with the Sarajevo phase for three or four chapters, and then switch to the author's teen years and the setting in of his depression, but then just as you were getting into that part of it, the book would switch back to Sarajevo for another three or four chapters, etc. I mean I'd really be getting into the Sarajevo part, the people he encountered along the way and their various dilemmas & the memoir would, once again, switch back to his home down, college years, and all that.
   
   I understand, though, it was probably done this way because the author and his editor, no doubt, saw no other way of tackling the subject matter. It''s cool. It's still a terrific read and should give some people enough hope who may be suffering with depression as John Falk once did.
   
   Anyway, read it. John Falk gives you a unique take on what took place during the year he spent in Sarajevo.
   
   P.S.
   
   See SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, starring Linus Roache and Vincent Perez. Based on an actual "anti-sniper" Falk got to know while over there. Powerful stuff.



2. I saw the title in Borders one day and something about it just caught me. Maybe its because i was also 24, living in my mothers basement, and was on the better half of my own battle with depression, despair, and uncertainty in life. Either way, i went to the library a week later and checked it out.
   
   An easy read, and i definitely identified with it. I think the duality of the war and flashing back to 80's long island was a great way to write the story.
   
   It isnt a self-help book, its just a real interesting story. And easy to read and well written. Its really an inspriring coming of age story as well. The way he decided to just pack up and go to Bosnia was great.
   
   I only gave it 4 stars cause it wont change your life or be the best book you ever read, but it was very enjoyable. If you are going through a depression or hard times, id reccomend something by Dan Millman or Dr David Burns first, but anyone thats been there can really appriciate this book.



3. Chapter 1's leap into Sarajevo had me. Chapter 2's first expressions of adolescent depression put me off, and I thought I was going to hate this book (and its author) as another self-centered, whine-fest, but there was a drama there that kept me reading. By chapter 3 I had surrendered to Mr. Falk's story, and I eventually succumbed to Mr. Falk's charms as an author. At least until I started writing this review.
   
   "Hello to All That..." is harrowing, humorous, and compelling, but it also seems a bit glib in a made for TV sense. There's a need to entertain that subtly subverts the power of the story. "Hello to All That..." is a crisis memoir that addresses the search for self in the midst of profound depression, and the redemption of "cure" through drug therapy, and release from self. It's a privileged child's coming-of-age memoir that reminded me that privilege is not necessarily protection, and hardship is only romantic to the detached observer. It's also a war story in which the scenes played out in ways that added to a dramatic made for TV feel.
   
   My other problems with the book were in its alternating chapter strategy which caused a wrench in flow, and I wonder that Mr. Falk or his editors weren't able to develop smoother transitions; and the author's admission that the chronology was altered for dramatic impact. The chronological tinkering is the larger problem. I don't know if that's fair in a memoir, and given the recent controvery with James Frey's, "A Million Little Pieces," it's tricky ground to be walking on. Mr Falk's desire to create drama may also have something to do with the "let me entertain you," feel I got from the book. The admission is admirable, but I find it troubling nonetheless.
   
   "Hello to All That..." was a good read, in the moment, but quite problematic on reflection. As a "read" I'm giving it three stars, as a memoir I'd only give it two.



4. I could not put this book down. I have struggled with depression for years. There is no book that explains depression more believably - Falk's feeling that life has no meaning echoes how I have felt for most of my life. He is the voice for the most cynical of all of us.
   
   The main thing that made it a brilliant piece was what he gave us in the end. Throughout the book, I was hoping for a giant piece of insight to pull me out of my own despair. About 3/4's through, he talks to the wise man who has seen it all in war-ravaged Bosnia. The guy responds with something like "Love is the answer." My heart started sinking as I almost predicted what was going to happen. He was going to take the wise man's advice and return to America, with renewed appreciation for the family that loves him. I thought: While this is a great ending for Falk, it leaves the rest of us in the lurch. What about the 'Roberts' out there who don't have anyone? Then, the wedding bells chime and it feels like there will be no answer. But just before the book closes, he drops a line: "Not one soul in that my [wedding] backyard did I meet while I was depressed."
   
   So his message is powerfully clear: Depression can really destroy a life, so that one ends up completely alone.
   
   I really think part of his remission is due to a combination of things - how his life was enriched by his experiences, but most of all that he is now surrounded by people that love him. I strongly got the feeling that he never really "recovered" until he found himself no longer "on the edges of other people's lives", but happily married. But in order to get there, he had to get on the antidepressants, which gave him the umph he needed to gain some new experiences. Perhaps those experiences enriched him as a person so that he was able to more successfully connect with other people. For man is a social animal, and without that sense of belonging most of us feel adrift and alone.
   
   The biggest piece of wisdom I gathered from Falk's piece is to what extent depression CAUSES life to go bad, rather than the other way around. For he found hard evidence in the fact that there are HAPPY people in a war-torn country. Unthinkable. While external circumstances can certainly destroy, he provided a clue to those of us who are hurting in spite of all the advantages. His non-condescending, measured tone will go a long way to make you feel validated if you are suffering from depression.



5. This novel jumps from present day Sarajevo in 1993 to, in the next chapter, Long Island in the 1980's. In Sarajevo Falk fights to stay alive and find stories as an inexperienced and naive freelance reporter, back on Long Island he fights a long and horrible depression that started for no reason and for twelve long hard years showed no signs of ever ending. John is convinced that no one can help him and all he can do is try to hang on and hope everything goes back to the way it was.
   
   Through the book, we see all aspects of his life and get to know Falk better than most of our closest relatives. It made me wonder how many of my close friends are secretly battling depression. John eventually does see a psychiatrist, and after a few different medications finally finds relief. After college, he sets off to find himself and ends up in Sarajevo alone again. However, with the help of Zoloft he knows that nothing is hopeless.
   
   As a depression survivor, I would recommend this to anyone that thinks that they are alone without hope or anyone that has ever been comforted, as Falk was at one point, by knowing that they can end their life anytime. I know I have made the book sound depressing but Falk is a wonderful writer and the novel has many funny and uplifting moments. The world would be a better place if more people were like John Falk.

5 comments about Best of Friends, The.

1. Do you need to know how people cope with immigration, or do you want to understand the strength and power of woman? Do you need inspiration to realize your dreams or do you want to see the wonder of the animal instinct humans have in friendship?
   Do you know anybody that immigrated? Then if you value that friendship, read this book now. It does not matter how wonderful the country is to which one immigrates, your longing for your original home, family and friends can never be alleviated. It becomes part of who you are. One does not need to be depressed or wingy about the matter, but it is always there. Pulling at the very strings of your heart. And one try to justify it on a daily basis.
   Ginger and Sara lives this globalization. Sara's office is the world. While she has a family at home. Her friend and support system is at least 3 long haul flights away. Ditto with her in laws.
   Ginger lives the dream, finds the love of her life at a price. Though her office is confined to one country, she is vulnerable to the excruciating elements of this desert.
   My admiration of these two woman knows no bounds, and on top of all of that, they can write!
   Best gift ever for your best friend.



2. I read this book because these authors went to school with my daughters. As I read, my interest went far beyond my connection. The candid sharing of both triumphs and let-downs of each woman was unique and interesting.
   The lessons learned, the sacrifices and wisdom gained from following their dreams was fascinating. I highly recommend this book and hope they will continue writing.



3. How refreshing to read about two loving, smart, independent women and how they realize the need for loving interdependence between friends! The idea of writing a book together over time and many miles is a perfect illustration of their connection. Their stories of being there for each other -- in spirit and when possible in person -- through the best and worst of times are inspiring. They remind us that the realities of adult life are best viewed through loving eyes -- our own and those of our friends and families. I have read it and shared it with friends with joy and confidence that they will enjoy it as well. Definitely add it to your summer must read list.



4. Usually, I'm not a non-fiction reader, but the story of Sarah and Ginger's enduring friendship kept me glued to the book. I'd suggest this to anyone who has a friend of any length of time. Loved it!



5. It's a great read - the intertwining lives of two childhood friends and how they have cleaved together over the decades. What's rare about this book is that each woman has her say and tells her own story - yet the sum is much more powerful than the two parts. Wonderful to see how these two young girls evolve into women as they nurture each other along the way. I loved it.

5 comments about Son of the Rough South: An Uncivil Memoir.

1. This is an important book for anyone interested in understanding the USA
   in the 20th century. Rich, detailed and well written. A great cant-put- down read. I will read it again.



2. I was hoping for an informed history of the civil rights movement in America. Instead, I found this book to be Fleming's catharsis. I don't care about his sexual experiences, and although they may have scarred him or contributed to his personality quirks, they have nothing to do with the civil riights movement. The "I was a poor orphan", while touching, could have been reduced from 300 pages to about 30. Do not waste your time.



3. This is a terrific book: a personal story that is vivid and candid.
   A history of the black & white civil rights struggle.
   A poignant picture of growing up orphaned and Southern.
   Portraits of the leaders of the 1960s civil rights movement, plus the indelible events of the time.
   
   Fleming writes with impeccable detail and drama.
   He blends his difficult upbringing with the difficult era of black people vying for respect in America.
   Interesting: Fleming shows the subtle side of this conflict: how a white Southerner reacts to blacks and to Northerners.
   
   If you like memoirs, read this; if you are attracted to American history, this is a vital piece of it.
   
   This is the kind of book that should be a big selling book. But don't worry, it will be remembered as an essential document of the ways Americans sought to build a society of dignity.



4. My granddaughter recommended this book to me. She is studying the civil rights movement at Rutgers University. It is one of the most outstanding books I have ever read. It is sad, funny, colorful, and true.
   Karl Fleming is my new hero. I am also from North Carolina, went to the same college, and am only a few years younger, so I can identify with many of his experiences. He is a very brave person to have taken a stand against segregation when he did. Many of us cringed at the mistreatment of Blacks in those days but were afraid to speak up.
   In addition, Karl's ability to describe surroundings and provide details made me feel that I was there. Sometimes I was there. I, too, took modern dance from Joy Kirchner,the red headed teacher at Appalachian. I knew the English professor who was crazy about Shakesphere and had liquor on his breath. But, that is not what makes the book outstanding. Karl Fleming is just a great, great writer. You will be glad you read this book



5. I was motivated to buy this after hearing the author interviewed on NPR. A native of Mississippi, I was interested in his accounts of the Neshoba County murders of three civil rights workers, and of the riot which occurred on the Ole Miss campus when National Guardsmen arrived to help James Meredith enroll there. The author has been present to record, and sometimes participate in, history, but the most interesting part was his recollection of his impoverished Depression-era childhood. The writing style is conversational and easy to read. You can definitely tell he's a journalist by trade. Well worth any price you pay.

1 comments about Barbara Walters: An Unauthorized Biography.

1. When I bought the book last year(during my semester vacation) I actually didn't read it straight away. I just read the book when my new semester begin(I've got nothing to do since it's the beginning of the semester)it's just simply amazing,once I read I cannot put it down.It's a story about a world famous , I can say a journalist,who are very determined to get everythings that she did became a perfect one. Considering the environment, the way she grows,how she face the problems of her personal life and the way she solve the problem,I would say for those who wants to be a succes must follow. The way the story goes is very smooth.I plan to read another book by the same writer , I think the writer,author,is very professional when it comes to deal with autobiography. that's all. thank you.

5 comments about A Life Shaken: My Encounter with Parkinson's Disease.

1. This was by far the most comprehensive, detailed and informative book on Parkinson's disease I have read.
   The author is an Early On Set Parkinson's patient and yet, with support, has been able to continue to raise his family and work full-time at his job as Editor of the Los Angeles Times.
   
   He thoroughly investigates medications and other medical proceedures available and their benefits and disadvantages, which I found extremely helpful- certainly more information than I received from any physician.
   
   Further, the author discusses, with amazing frankness, his own physical and mental challenges, which takes it beyond pure information to a story of courage and personal growth.



2. Joel Havemann brings the journalist's practiced eye for detail, detachment and clarity of expression to the task of understanding, describing and coping with Parkinson's. He also allows his heart to speak and the result is a work that should be especially valuable to those who have themselves have recently received a Parkinson's diagnosis or who have a close relative or friend thus stationed.
   The book offers clear and interestingly presented facts about the various drugs, treatments and hopeful research that become an integral part of having Parkinson's, as well as the historical and public policy context in which those elements have evolved in the centuries since the disease was first identified. There is just the right mix of facts, opinion and sometimes barely concealed disgust in Havemann's treatment of these matters.
   As valuable as those chapters are, I think many will find Havemann's account of his personal odyssey and that of his family to be the more valuable aspect of his book. He is unstinting in his descriptions of the physical and mental effects of the disease and frank about his occasional failures to deal with those effects as effectively as he would like. He also spares little in telling of his fears about the disease's potential progress and what it could mean for him and his family.
   I can't think of a better preparation for confronting the many challenges and crises that accompany the arrival of Parkinson's in the life of an individual and family. A Life Shaken is strongly recommended.



3. Other books about PD scared the heck out of me, but Havemann's sense of humor and indomitable spirit have changed my perspective. I'm not afraid anymore. Thank you Joel. The book is honest and straightforward. He describes what happens to a brain with PD so clearly that I finally understand it!



4. Author Joel Havemann weaves his own story of living with this progressive neurological disease with a clear and carefully researched explanation that ranges from symptoms and drugs to challenges and the outlook for a cure. "For an adventure it is - not one that I would have chosen, but an adventure all the same." Mr. Havemann, an editor with the Washington bureau of the Los Angeles Times, helps us look at the human brain and its intricate yet magnificent operation, and the disastrous consequences of even the simplest misfire. He has created an excellent reference guide for caregiver, family member and patient alike that affirms the paradox of our own frustrations and hopes for the future. We feel Mr. Havemann's determination to keep going for his family, anger at the debilitating symptoms, and belief that the scientific and medical communities will deliver an answer.



5. Mr. Havemann provides us with an incredibly personal view into Parkinson's disease. His wit, candor, and superb writing style draws the reader into his story to such a degree that it is difficult to disengage. While telling his story he concurrently entertains and educates the reader as to where medicine stands with regard to research and current treatment, and how individuals cope. I'm looking forward to his next work.

2 comments about The Patron: A Life of Salman Schocken, 1877-1959.

1. I have read a number of reviews of this book all of which praise Anthony David for his detailed study of the life of Zalman Schocken.
   David paints the portrait of a remarkable Renaissance figure, an innovative empire- building businessman , a great patron of the Arts, a humanist, Zionist builder of cultural life in the land of Israel.
   Schocken was born in Posen in Prussia, but built a business empire throughout Germany. His department- stores were forerunners of today's Malls. He combined in them a sense of the aesthetic ( Bauhaus architect Eric Mendlesohn was his designer) with a real understanding of the customers' needs.
   He also was an autodidact a lover of German and Jewish culture. The shock of his life came with the coming of the Nazis to power, and from then on he shifted most of his activities to Jewish cultural work. He also to a degree recreated a bit of the business empire he had in Germany, in then Palestine and the United States. 'Schocken Books' is one of his cultural monuments. He was the patron of Buber,Scholem, Elsa Lasker-Schuler, and most notably Agnon. Schoken had an eye for talent and an ability to support and sustain it.
   One of his major moves was his purchase of the newspaper 'Haaretz' as wedding gift for his son. This would become the Israeli equivalent of the NY Times.
   Schocken was also a great patron of the Hebrew University.
   Schocken contributed much to the building of Hebrew culture in the land of Israel, and Jewish culture throughout the world.
   A highly recommended work.



2. This is a professionally-written biography of the late German-Jewish philanthroper Zalman Schocken. I learned many things from this biography that I hadn't known about his life: that he was actually from Prussian-controlled Poland and thus, was not a "blue blood" German Jew, about his innovations in commerce which lead to the massive successes of his department store chain, and his relationship with other German-Jewish figures in the Zionist movement such as Gershom Scholem, Hannah Arendt, and S.Y. Agnon. I learned that Agnon kept his right-wing and very anti-Arab attitudes out of his books because his 40-year patron, Zalman Schocken, told him to do it. I learned that Schocken Books published a whole line of Jewish-subject-related books in Germany after the Nazis came to power, even exploiting their sepearation laws to be a "Jewish publisher."
   
   Up until the Nazis come to power, Schocken appears to be a man of talent and relevancy, both in the realm of business and also in the realm of Jewish cultural revival. The last 25 years of his life are portrayed as those of a man who has had the cultural and business orientation ripped away from him by Adolf Hiter and in relying on his previously-used models of success and meaning,falling into irrelevance.
   
   The author has worked hard to understand all of the angles of Schocken's life: as a businessman, as a successful autodidact and lover of literature and philosophy, as a philathroper, and even a bit about his personal life and his relationship with his family. The author has also mastered the intellectural and political background in which Schocken's life occurs, both in Germany and then in Jewish-Palestine, which eventually became Israel.
   
   Zalman Schocken was certainally a character and personality of an exceptional and excentric order and this books comprehensively explores all aspects of his life, his business endeavors, his social visions, his philonthropic endeavors, his ideas about culture, Judaism, and his relationships with other people.

No comments about JERRI: A Black Woman's Life in the Media.