5 comments about The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington.

1. It took me a little while but I read each and every word of this 638-page Washington memoir by Robert Novak. While Novak clearly sees the world through his right-wing perspective, the dirty little secret is that he can usually rise above this point of view and be just as tough and analytical on conservative republicans as he can on liberal democrats and become a terrific and perceptive reporter. As proof, Novak cites his usually dead-on predictions through the Evans and Novak Political Report of election results for each two-year cycle.
   
   His book is amazingly candid in revealing many of his sources throughout his 50 years of reporting in Washington as well as frequent references to his personal assets and earnings throughout the years, which he uses to measure his success. Novak has and continues to suffer from an almost innumerable amount of illnesses (including several bouts of cancer) which he details throughout the book, but it all doesn't matter--The column or the (CNN) show must go on! Because he is so tough and serious about his work, he makes enemies amazingly easy and often converts former friends to enemies after some "misunderstanding" which he points out is never his fault.
   
   The book does offer some great insights into some of major events and figures of our times with a special emphasis on politicians' and other reporters' hypocrisy whether it's Dick Armey, Bill Kristol, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bob Dole, Wolf Blitzer--well, you get the idea.
   
   What I found amazing is that Novak--as a central figure in at least part of the CIA leak case--never references the name of Scooter Libby and he makes no acknowledgment that his column's reference to Valerie Plame had a contributing role in Libby's actions which led to Libby's conviction. This is an example, I think, of Novak's inability to often "connect the dots" which looks to be one of his weaknesses.
   
   Finally, Novak also shows himself to be a very sensitive individual and he seems to take special "joy" in using his latest and the most personal of his books to settle old grudges--both personal and political. It was somewhat disappointing (but revealing and entertaining) to learn that Novak just can't help himself throughout the book in attacking the policies of George McGovern. Gee, Bob--that was 36 years ago. Oh well.
   
   This is a solid read and will fill in many of the blanks in your knowledge of the last 50 years in Washington, D.C. I strongly recommend it especially for those who have an interest in journalism and media as well as politics.



2. I'll come clean and admit off the bat that I like Robert Novak. I don't dislike someone because of their political ideology if they can sublimate that to their profession. I like his combative style, his principles, his philosophical underpinnings which - one notices distinctly - set him against those who one would assume would be natural allies (Bush, Dole, Bush II, Eisenhower, various conservatives). Indeed, his traditional Republican values of personal liberty, sound currency, a foreign policy of non-intervention, a free-market (vs government-imposed or Socialist) approach to societal problems - these eventually set him squarely against the Washington elite regardless of party. This principled approach helped maintain his independence over the years instead of becoming a party hack mouthing the party line as so many journalists are wont to do tody.
   
   In the end, though, his is a story about journalism. He continually went after the big story. The book is framed around the so-called Plame affair and in this case, Novak's version was completely verified by all those concerned - the special prosecutor, witnesses and the Senate committee that found Wilson had gave untruthful testimony. One notes repeatedly how often Bob Novak reports on incidents that put himself in a bad light or shows that he made a mistake at the time - a rarity in either DC politics or modern journalism.
   
   His sources were legendary - Patrick Moynihan, Jack Kemp, lobbyists, secretaries, ambassadors, Karl Rove - the list goes on. These provided so many exposes and behind-the-scenes "what really happened" incidents that they are too numerous to attempt to enumerate. His Evans & Novak column, his CNN shows, his personal and private friendships and wars make for fascinating reading from a true Washington "insider." The personal touch - his conversion from a fuzzy Jewish background to Catholicism - gives us that human touch needed in tomes like these. My Grade: A



3. An autobiograpy of Novak career as a journalist, this book is a tour de force of his personal recollection and opinion of an imposing array of the famous, near famous, would be famous US political figures of the past 50 years.
   
   I heartily recommend this book as nostalgia for readers of my generation and an educational primer for the younger.



4. As a retired journalist I thought "The Prince of Darkness" was one of the best autobiographies I've ever read. This book should be required reading for journalism students. Novak is probably one of the best pure reporters in the last half century. If you're one of Novak's contemporaries you can relate to the politicians, communicators, and other prominent Americans and the pivotal events he discusses so succinctly. I especially enjoyed his personal reaction to Joseph Wilson, husband of Valerie Plame. I think that his integrity is the major reason his career was so successful. His opinions and his reporting come straight from the shoulders--direct and more often than not right on the mark.



5. Bob Novak, love him or hate him, is a damned good reporter. His passion is politics, and only political junkies will appreciate this book of memoirs...apolitical types will not get past five pages.
   
   Liberal politicos should read this book, too, though I fear not many will. Novak is, after all, THE ENEMY, and fifty years of empirical insights can be discounted on partisan grounds. If so, their loss.
   
   One can psychoanalyze Novak and get a sense of what makes him tick: only child of an adoring Jewish mother and Republican father, spoiled, coddled, with the characteristic Semitic drive and ambition to work hard, get ahead, become a success, and leave a mark.
   
   Those qualities have impelled Novak to write a very long memoir, including as many details as his editor would allow...and it is fascinating, hard-to-put-down stuff. Novak is now in his late seventies, with millions in the bank and a large, loving family...ergo, he lets it all hang out. Names are named, undiplomatic opinions given, and, most importantly, integrity maintained.
   
   That's right: integrity. Novak may come off as arrogant and self-serving to some, but the guy is as aware of his own faults as he is of the politicians' he has covered, and does not hesitate to critique his own conduct...and to admit mistakes he has made. And though a conservative, he does not spare anyone based on political considerations. (Just ask Bush 41.)
   
   (If it makes any difference, in private Novak is a personable, kind man...he was charming and friendly to a relative of mine who met him whilst working at a hotel he was staying at.)
   
   Some political memoirs are terrible, but this is not one of them. It is not perfect, but it almost never drags (I could do without Novak's recounting of his religious rebirth, but, then again, when I'm his age, I'll probably find God too), and the revelations, insights, and, uh, substantive gossip cascade from the pages. I came away edified, informed, and with a deeper respect for and understanding of one of the nation's most brilliant, professional and uncompromising journalists.
   
   (P.S. Joe Wilson is a lying douchebag.)

5 comments about Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer.

1. Years ago I stumbled on a book of fiction about Stanley's captaining of the ill-fated relief mission to "save" Emin Pasha in the late 1880's. I simply couldn't believe that what I was reading about the horrors of the journey were real, so began by reading my first Stanley biography. The horrors were real, and the courage required of African explorers was almost beyond imagination. Stanley, more than any man, knew that dark side.
   
   From the beginning I've been riveted by the man's accomplishments and (like T.E. Lawrence, as another review has perceptively noted) his many attempts to 'create himself' for the media to cover up a sad, neglected, Dickensian childhood. The most recent biography of Stanley I read, by John Bierman, depressed me, because it leaned so hard on Stanley's toughness that he came out as a brutal bully with no redeeming features whatsoever. My initial admiration waned.
   
   It is thus a delight to find in such a superb, well-written, and thoroughly researched biography as this, that Henry Stanley was a genuine human being, flawed and fascinating, gentle and brutal, demanding and obsessed by duty. Jule presents a multi-dimensional character and one's respect for other biographers, who've simply beaten Stanley for the sins of his generation, wanes in direct proportion to the realization of all that Stanley achieved in spite of his inner demons. That sad, abandoned child lived in Stanley until the day he died, but what remarkable courage he showed in spite of it! And what permanent changes he helped bring to world history, even if others took his great explorations and made horrible things of them.
   
   Also, with all due respect to many of the earlier, brilliant African explorers such as Burton or Stanley Baker, how remarkably free of racism and paternalistic 'cant' Stanley was. Burton himself was almost a pathological racist. There is no trace of this in Stanley. Again and again, when he lost his temper, it was because his fellow whites invariably treated the natives with (at best) contempt and, at worst, with brutality. The irony that it has become fashionable to portray Stanley himself as a brutal racist, is simply one of many in this biography.
   
   This should remain by far the best, most thorough, and most balanced biography of this remarkable man for the foreseeable future. Thank you, Mr. Jeal, for portraying the whole man again. And what a remarkable story it is, truly starker than any fiction!



2. Allow me state here at the beginning of my review that categorically Tim Jeal's biography of Henry Morton Stanley is a masterpiece. The book is epic in scope and proves to be both a wonderful narration of a life as well as a statement in support of the rehabilitation of Stanley's reputation. The book stands along side of my favorite biographies such as PETER THE GREAT by Robert Massie, AMERICAN CAESAR by William Manchester, and PRINCE OF OUR DISORDER (T.E. Lawrence) by John E. Mack. Much of Stanley's story seems to mirror T/E. Lawrence. Both illegitimate and trying to find a place in the world when the British class system was an obstacle to achievement to those of lowly birth. Both in many ways reinvented themselves but never were able to overcome the circumstances of their birth and childhood secrets. But as amazing as is the story of Lawrence of Arabia Tim Jeals reveals Stanley to be as just as an incredible life. I am not going to go into the various expeditions and events of Stanley's life in this review. You can discover those for yourself. But would like to comment that Jeals biography has a heavy amount of insightful psychological background to his narrative as well as almost a legal brief defense of Stanley's reputation whom Jeal clearly feels has been badly stereotyped, I found this approach exciting and most interesting although at times I wondered if the unfavorable view of Stanley needed an advocate. But this is a warts and all biography and Jeal does present Stanley as most human. In the end Jeal convinced me that my favorite African Explorer, Richard Burton was not the greatest. Stanley gets the nod now. I highly recommend this book to you. I think you will be amazed by this life and by the way it unfolds through Tim Jeal's exceptional writing.



3. This is the finest biography that I have read in some time. The writing is superb and it is based upon the most thorough research on its subject yet. The author is uniquely qualified to write this book as he has also written the definitive book on Stanley's counterpart, Dr. Livingstone. What makes this book so compelling is the subject himself. He was abandoned by his mother and never knew his father. The kind grandfather who took care of him died suddenly when Stanley was five years old and his mother's family had him placed in a workhouse. There he stayed for ten years when he left at age fifteen. His life became an odyssey which took him to America back to England and then to Africa where he achieved fame. Despite his accomplishments as discoverer and author, his personal life was full of disappointment. His attempt to hide his illegitimacy had led him to lie about his background. This coverup came close to unraveling on numerous occasions. Years after his career had ended he returned to New Orleans incognito where he walked the cemeteries looking for a "Stanley" tombstone that would give him a name to use in documenting his story. The irony was that one of the world's greatest discoverers could never find himself. An excellent book about a fascinating subject.



4. Stanley takes you to a place in history where you may have never traveled. A name associated with Africa but never explored. Makes you get up from your reading and reference the World Atlas re the Congo. A terrific adventure story and it's all true.



5. The most interesting biographies are those that break new ground, either through new access to information or with new opinion. Jeal's is a good combination of the two, providing a well argued case for why Stanley should be rescued from the same part of history that holds darker characters like Mosely and put on a new pedestal. Ok, so Stanley still won't win any awards for sainthood, but Jeal points out that not even Livingstone was a saint. Saints wouldn't have survived 19th century central Africa. Jeal does a tremendous job of putting his finger on the anxious search for approval that drove Stanley throughout his life and his refusal to ever acknowledge his birth as the bastard son of Wales, raised in a workhouse. Strangely, since Jeal seems so determined to polish Stanley's reputation, he takes poorly aimed shots at those who shared the stage in England. Burton is repeatedly and wrongly dismissed as a racist. Does Jeal stop to ask himself how many racists would have enough respect for other cultures to speak 28 languages or spend years incognito in foreign lands? Despite these unnecessary diversions, this book is well worth the read, as much a physcoanalysis as an adventure.

5 comments about Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith.

1. I wanted to get a glimpse of contemporary conservative thinking. After Mr. Buckley passing away I heard that he was a sort of beacon for modern Conservative political thought. There's no better way to get a lowdown on this than to get under conservative skin, i.e. going into the subject of faith, since this is a sort of underlying building block for conservative thought.
   
   Referring to the subtitle "An autobiography of faith", there is very little "autobiography". We get just a glimpse of Mr.Buckley's privileged childhood in the beginning of the book. But the major body of the text is a commentary on someone else's religious writings, filled with very generous quotations. From the initial premise of the book - "autobiography of faith" - I got an impression that it's going to be a personal account of how someone like Mr. Buckley comes to Catholic faith and what strengthens him in his beliefs. What you get instead is a very referential analysis of certain developments in the history of Catholicism and some current religious concepts. For example, Vatican abandoning the Latin liturgy in favor of modern languages (the author strongly disagrees with it), issues of contraception, the influence of church on the state, etc. In general, it leaves a strong impression that this book is written by a journalist, who wanted to mull over the current agenda, not by a person, who wanted to explore and share his personal relationship with God.



2. I am not a Roman Catholic and never have been. My review is by an individual who is critical of the Roman Catholic Faith. The author of this book, William F. Buckley is a devout Roman Catholic and believes in the teachings of his church. The title of this work makes it sound like a devotional; it is not. The cover of the book calls the book an autobiography of Faith; It is not. William F. Buckley does share some personal experience in his life interacting with the Roman Catholic church. He also discusses thoughts of fellow Catholics in his life. It is not explanation or presentation development of faith through life experience or study. This book is about Roman Catholic doctrine. The original working title of this book was Why am I still a Catholic. William F. Buckley felt this title made it seem like he was or should be embarrassed to be a member of the Catholic Church; something he surely is not. The author uses the same intellect and serious thought to his religious faith as he argues his political views.
   
   The Catholic church is the ultimate arbitrator of Truth. This book defends the Pope's obligation to make biblical teaching clearer and easier to understand. The author details the churches' position on developing doctrine. Difficulties between Arnold Lunn, then at the time not a catholic, and friar Arnold. Included in the discussion is papal inerrancy , the inquisition and slavery , eternal punishment, indulgences, difficulty with Biblical interpretation and Biblical literalism. In other places in this work the author defends Mother as the Mother of God, the praying to `the saints', miracles at Lourdes, issues of no woman priests, divorce - annulments, birth control, and remarriage. Obviously I disagree with most everything in the defense of Catholic teaching but is done well. Ordination of Michael Bozell is told about. The principles of being a God Father and how the application in real life is discussed.
   
   Included are observations and experience with fellow Catholics. An example of this is Malcolm Muggeridge.



3. Written in a gentle way without any super big words pushing you to the nearest dictionary. A statement of faith and belief. But spiritual questions remain which even the super intelligent can not totally figure out. This reviewer found the book enlightening.



4. I'm suprised he's a Mr. Buckley instead of a Dr. Buckley.
   His philosophical defense on Christianity are as complex and as detailed as other leading doctorate Christian Apologetic defenses by such professors as William Lane Craig and Peter Kreeft.
   His book is more than just intriguing; it's a work of deep thought and faith.
   Although the extravagant words that Mr. Buckley uses (Many of the words he use are unfamiliar to Microsoft Word!) can be quite confusing, it's logical structure is superb.
   Mr. Buckley must have some very good knowledge on formal logic.
   I personally like how he seperates his defenses of Christianity and Catholicism, allowing this book to be tolerated for even the most evangelical Christian.
   That's another great aspect of the book, in my opinion. (I am not an evangelical) Mr. Buckley is obviously a conservative Catholic, seperated by the popular Christian evangelism that is sweeping through churches. Buckley put's aside the evangelical dogma, and shows Christianity on how it really is.
   Not by saying that every religion is wrong except for Christianity - the evangelical approach
   but by saying why Christianity is the right religion, and how he possibly could be wrong.
   Christian apologetic books like this make Atheists, like Sam Harris, beg for a chance to slow down and let them organize their thoughts.
   So instead of having Rick Warren and Sam Harris debate on Newsweek, let's see Sam Harris and William F. Buckley bust out their beliefs. But I do believe Mr. Harris would plead for a Dictionary somewhere in the middle of such a debate.
   
   The book is superb and I recommend it for those Christians who feel their faith lacks intellectual and rational standing.
   
   Great Book



5. Interesting, but not riveting...I would say the best chapters are the first several - Buckley seems to lose his way through the book - what is he trying to convey to us in the latter chapters? He, himself says he took on and then abandoned the project (it sounds like a couple of times) before settling down to write it. His writing is always interesting - delightful 'turn of phrase' springs to mind...IMHO - not up to the Buckley standard (and admittedly - it is a high standard)

No comments about Conversations with Hunter S. Thompson (Literary Conversations Series).

5 comments about A Writer at War: A Soviet Journalist with the Red Army, 1941-1945.

1. Like the other books of his I've read (Black Book -- really great book), this book manages to be extremely factual yet at the same time emotionally gripping. Grossman's reporting narrative puts you in the time and the place and gives a strong sense of what it was like to be there - the senses, the feelings, the despair, the players, the impact to real people. If you are interested in the Soviet side of the war, or WW2 in general, this is a must read.



2. 
   Grossman, most famous for his Tolstoyan work, 'Life and Fate' was, first and foremost, a journalist. He spent the majority of the Second World War on the front lines, witnessing some of the most violent confrontations of the war. He was in Stalingrad, widely acknowledged as the bloodiest battle in history. He was at Kursk, the major tank battle of the war and the military turning point-Stalingrad being the psychologic hinge-of-fate for Nazi Germany's imperialistic and ideological ambitions. He was at Treblinka during it's liberation and in Berlin during the final death-throes of the Nazi beast. In other words, he was an eye-witness to all the major events on the Eastern Front.
   
   This book, cleverly and unobtrusively edited and translated by Vinogradova and Beevor excerpt relevant segments from Grossman's diaries. These wartime diaries were kept at great personal risk, since such activities were prohibited by the Stalin government. While many of the depictions of the attitudes and behaviors of Soviet soldiers seem redolant of 'socialist realist' propaganda, the descriptions of Treblinka and the author's sentient observations on Soviet military men are obviously the product of a gifted writer and psychologist.
   
   The reader should recall that these diary entries were not intended for publication but rather were kept by Grossman to provide source material for future literary efforts. Unfortunately, Grossman fell afoul of Stalin, largely for his efforts to publicize the fate of Jews at the hands of the Nazis and secondarily for failing to sufficiently promote the role of Stalin's leadership and the Party in the Battle of Stalingrad. As a result, 'Life and Fate' was only published posthumously and stomach cancer claimed the author's life before much of the raw materials presented in this book could be crafted into a final literary effort. Any serious student of WW-II should read this book, as it is a major contribution to understanding the Soviet perspective on the 'Great Patriotic War'.



3. Vasili Semenovich Grossman was a decorated Soviet military journalist best known in the West for his epic novel, Life and Fate (New York Review Books Classics). In 'A Writer at War' editors and translators Anthony Beevor (Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943), an esteemed historian and author in his own right, and Luba Vinogradova, follow Grossman's progression through the war by piecing together stories from his notebooks and writings. At times one would have liked a bit more context to be provided by Beevor, but that is a minor quibble.
   
   Grossman, while still a loyal Communist at this point, managed to maintain a relatively objective viewpoint. He often pushed his editors to allow him to write stories they did not want written, in particular regarding the fate of the Jews in the Ukraine under German occupation and the role of the Ukrainians.
   
   While at time the stories have to be stitched together from bits and pieces, `A Writer at War' is a gold mine and provides a rare view into the inner workings of the Soviet military and Soviet military journalism in particular. Grossman experienced the initial German onslaught and the Russian flight from it, Stalingrad, the tank battle at Kursk, and the death camps. The book includes an extensive article on the workings of the German death camp Treblinka. Earns the highest recommendation.



4. Parragraphs of intense live experiences on the Eastern Front are interspersed with the introduction and analyses of historian Mr. Beevor. If it had been in a linear sort of narrative, so we could feel the progression of the drama, and we could get used to the comings and goings of our narrator, it would have been a great book. But we have only scattered pieces, fading images of a soul soaked in the pain of war, glimpses of horrors witnessed and stories that remain untold.
   
   It's what it hints at that gives it its precious value: the authenticity and honesty of the man, Grossman. But it lacks a linear storytelling; it leaves a chaotic impression of imprecise locations and hard-to-pronounce names. I'm the first to be sorry about this impression, nevertheless it is what it is. I would have packed the best passages into a short book, made it more concise and more precise.



5. I'm very glad I've read this book, because it is truly one of the greatest, if not the greatest eye-witness account of the war on the eastern front. The chapter about the liberation of Dachau and the writer's thoughts about the Holocaust made me shiver, I've read dozens of books on the Holocaust but nobody ever put it to paper like Vassily did. If you haven't read this book, please do. You will never forget it.

5 comments about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Other American Stories (Modern Library).

1. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" by Hunter S. Thompson
   
   Hunter Thompson practiced total immersion journalism. This form of reporting is called gonzo journalism.
   
   Hunter Thompson drove to Las Vegas to report on a motorcycle race and ended up writing a story about himself writing a story about a motorcycle race. If he would have written a conventional report on motorcycle racing it would have been interesting to motorcycle enthusiasts for a few days. Since he wrote a gonzo story he had a very wide canvas and he used it well to create a classic.
   
   The reader might be turned off by the obstreperous behavior, extreme self indulgence and offensive inconsiderate language. If you can look past this offensive conduct and you will see that Hunter Thompson gave us an insight into the American character of the 1970's.
   
   See also: Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library)
   
   I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.



2. Up there with Bukowski as "must read but be prepared", I've been avoiding Fear and Loathing for a while for no particular reason. I'm glad I finally broke down and read it, it's really a great book!



3. For the uninitiated (do you exist?), Hunter S. Thompson was a man famous for drugs, brilliance, and hard-living -- and in roughly that order. This story is 'journalism' in that it actually happened(!!), sorta... Thompson would embellish profusely, but in life he was fully capable of Fear and Loathing's boozy, head-on, wildly narcotic journalism.
   
   This is Thompson's masterwork. Within the vague framework of "Gonzo" journalism, he packs in surges of cultural subversion and hallucinatory absurdity-as-humanity. Reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a singular experience, a rarity in contemporary lit. You will be shocked and amused. You will both yearn for mind drugs and fear them. You will, at times, feel as if peering into the soul of humanity. And you will laugh, always. Don't miss out.
   
   Also, a secret: This is a *tremendous* book to read aloud.



4. I went into this novel thinking about all of the other publicly spoken peer reviews I have heard. Of course the drug crazed part sounded hilarious, but also after my very brief prior knowledge to Thompson's writing, i knew it would have some redeeming literate values. Picking up strong from the start, the novel made me laugh in disbelief at some of the experiences the reporter and his lawyer went through. Some of them even made me question reality.I am not a psychadelic enthusiast so I cannot judge if it is actually possible to hallucinate to the point of actually seeing huge lizards devouring humans.
   
   This piece works in very strange ways, almost putting you in the journalist's position. It made me feel very "strange" to say the least. Overall, this novel is a fine choice whether you are looking for anything from a bathroom read all the way up to an analysis. A warning though is to not be too closed-minded when reading this novel. Expand your thought train and think about what the 2 are going through, whether you approve or you don't. My best comparison would be to read this tale as you would listen to Dark Side of the Moon.
   
   Pick this visionary piece up and enjoy it for yourself.
   there are so many things in this book that you can stretch out and mold in your mind to better suit your imagination. It was a great read.



5. This is one of the great books. This Modern Library hardcover edition is beautifully made - good paper, clear font.

5 comments about Miles Gone By: A Literary Autobiography (with CD).

1. MILES GONE BY is a compilation of William F. Buckley essays, columns and anecdotes which tell the story of his life. His writings are so prolific that the better parts of his life had already been chronicled, by himself no less, prior to his death.
   
   I began reading National Review in 1978 as a young liberal college student. Buckley was my cure for liberalism along with the practical demise of liberal theology under Carter. He was also a mentor and hero, of sorts, as the Reagan Era was ushered in and the world changed. I dug deep into Buckley's lore reading the Blackford Oakes novels, his journal at the United Nations, and his sailboat chronicles (AirBorne and Racing Through Paradise).
   
   WFB was a classic conservative voice at a time when conservatism had few national voices. Goldwater, Reagan, Milton Friedman, Gingrich and others would emerge as leaders but Buckley was always the apologist for the right. His bully pulpits were the National Review and Firing Line television program. At times I wondered if he befriended people like John Kenneth Galbraith to keep them busy while conservatives were busily furthering their agenda.
   
   Besides being the voice and conscience of the conservative movement in America, Buckley will be remembered for his civility. He was a gifted host and debater who confronted and entreated opponents with grace, tact, and utmost civility. He raised the national debate to a higher level of discourse.
   
   America is poorer for his passing.



2. When I was a kid, William F Buckley was a hero of my weekend TV, always the wordsmith, always clear, learned, and completely vicious in his rhetoric. This book compiles (mostly short) writings on a variety of topics, many quite personal, that show a loving son/husband/father, a wine aficionado, and a very warm human being. The writing is great: it is a joy to see those un-split infinitives, those real latin-rooted words, those well-crafted sentences. What comes across is a genuine man, one of towering intellectual power, who also worried about what his dad would do when he found out that he had bought a plane at college. If for no other reason, buy this book to enjoy (and inspire) great writing.
   By the way, I do not agree with him on any topic, perhaps excepting wine (buy cheaply, drink with friends).



3. William F. Buckley Jr. is now in his 80's and visibly winding up his affairs of this world. National Review, the magazine of conservative opinion that he founded and led for half a century, has been turned over to newer hands. Blackford Oakes, hero of a series of spy novels, has been heroically killed off. His production of public commentary is down to a few columns per month. 2004's "Miles Gone By", subtitled "a literary autobriography", is of a piece with this process. It is a collection of essays from his writing lifetime, with items about his childhood, his education at Yale, his time in the Army, his adventures as a sailor, portraits of colleagues and friends, and a sampling of other topics.
   
   Buckley has lived a fairly public life as an advocate for the Conservative point of view. "Miles Gone By" may therefore have no surprises for any future biographer. What the reader does find is William F. Buckley Jr at his finest, an educated and often witty observer of his world, pondering the moment and its meaning, finding delight in the skillful use of the English language. Also on display is Buckley's irreverance for the stuffy and the unsound. Highlights include a thoughtful essay on the 50th reunion of his Yale Class, a rueful account of an extended rail trip through Siberia, and brief sketches of his friendships with David Niven and Whittaker Chambers. An extended piece on "God and Man at Yale" recalls the book that started it all.
   
   This book is highly recommended to fans of Mr. Buckley, who will enjoy this fine sampling of his work, perhaps the last to be put out by his own hand.



4. Miles Gone By is an account of the life of William Buckley, whom many see as a conservative icon. Buckley shares many facets of his interesting life, particularly the following:
   
   1. Early childhood and close-knit family (I believe he was one of 10 children).
   2. Memories of his father and mother both of who he loved dearly.
   3. His years at Yale University and how the liberal bias drove him to write his book "God and Man at Yale".
   4. Memories of the 1950 class at Yale.
   5. His deep sea expedition to see the wreck of the Titanic.
   6. His sailing and skiing trips with various celebrities.
   7. Starting the National Review.
   8. Relationships with 10 special people of various backgrounds and poltical persuasions (David Niven, Ronald Reagan, Henry Kissinger, Clare Boothe Luce, Tom Wolfe, Vladimir Horowitz, Roger Moore, Alistair Cooke, Princess Grace, and John Kenneth Galbraith). I particularly enjoyed this section.
   
   The areas mentioned above are just a few mentioned. While Buckley undeniably comes from a rather refined background, his writing style is not arrogant. Indeed, he often thanks his Creator for the life he has lived and gives credit to other people when due.
   
   Read and enjoy the book and learn more about one of our country's great conservative icons. Recommended.



5. "Miles Gone By" seems to be a near complete biography and one that allows the reader to see how the puzzle fits together. It would be easy to overlook the uniqueness of this life by labeling the author as mostly reflecting a political point of view. He has shown in many of his other books his diversity of interests and his ability to inform his readers about activities and the events taking place in the world at the same time. I remember in his book "Racing Through Paradise how much I learned about sailing and how interesting it was to consider his political points of view presented as a part of each days activities. Miles Gone By seems to show the many sides and interests of his life as pieces of puzzle that reveal more of who he really is. The story is not in his point of view but is more so in whom he really is.
   
   A favorite chapter (2) was "God and Man at Yale" which was about his first book. I like to underline in red what stands out as I read and this chapter is mostly "red" in my book. In 1950 it was controversial to defend individualism, religion and capitalism. His education seemed to be, somewhat like his early life, one full of advantage and opportunity. Considering that it was even more of a surprise when he questioned the very mission of the institution he had been privileged to attend. He replied to his critics saying "a very recent graduate is not only supremely qualified, but uniquely qualified, to write about the ideological impact of an education he has experienced."
   
   Later in the book he says that as a senior citizen his faith has never left him. Through out his life we find in this biography that he has held tight to his religious convictions. Considering the years his life has spanned in the political arena this willingness to proclaim his own faith is made even clearer in this book.
   
   Both Buckley and Nixon have written about world leaders in a way that really adds to ones understanding of events. In many of Nixon's books those insights, even though insightful, seemed stand-alone. In this book many of the chapters deal with relationships but instead of standing alone as a subject for consideration they validate the unique impact that Buckley has had thorough out his life. This book will show you a very very interesting man.

5 comments about Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller.

1. Exceptionally well written book by a renowned current day investigative reporter about one of our first and foremost investigative reporters, Ida Tarbell. You'll learn about REAL American history starting with the early days of the oil business, thru the Civil War and into the industrial boom of the early 20th Century. Its an extremely perceptive American historical masterpiece and a real life feminist saga not to be missed by men and women alike.



2. Some journalists revel in muckraking reportage, and it doesn't make any difference to them that "muckraking" has been used as a term of opprobrium. There was a time when there was no tradition of newspapers doing investigative reporting; that tradition had to be invented. One of the inventors was Ida Tarbell who let the nation know how John D. Rockefeller was misusing corporate power. She didn't like to be called a muckraker, although she was in favor of reform, and the term had been coined by reform-minded Teddy Roosevelt. She resented that the term stuck to her, but it continues to do so. Rockefeller resented that her portrait of his abusive practices stuck to him, but it continues to do so. Tarbell was a journalistic innovator who deserves to be well known for her historic contributions to reporting and to society, and in _Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller_ (Norton) by Steve Weinberg, the story is told in absorbing detail. The book is supposed to tell the story of both main characters, but Weinberg is a reporter himself and can be excused for making Tarbell the star. She is, anyway, a lot more interesting than Rockefeller who didn't have much going for him except for the capacity to make lots of money, the same as many robber barons of the time. Tarbell never had anything close to the money or influence that Rockefeller had, but she won the contest between them, and she was the one proved right after all.
   
   Tarbell shared her family's distrust of Standard Oil. Her father, and later her brother, became independent oil producers, and neither of them sold out to Standard Oil. Plenty of others did; Rockefeller swallowed up competitors and, as he pointed out, the smart ones took Standard Oil stock and became very rich indeed. The ones who tried to stay independent struggled to stay in business. Weinberg documents that her personal feelings may have powered her resolve to tell the Standard Oil story, but that she relied on facts as she had in all her previous researches. Here main revelation in her articles for _McClure's_ magazine was that Standard Oil had beaten out competitors by making secret deals with the railroads that transported its oil. She got the facts by looking at the files of letters kept by Rockefeller's competitors, by checking the records of his Baptist congregation, by looking into the records of governmental investigations into Standard Oil, and by contacting (with the help of Mark Twain) a sort of "Deep Throat" figure within the company itself. She not only connected facts, but she specifically reported about the sources she used; documenting sources is taken for granted now, but it was a novelty that she introduced into reporting. _McClure's_ published her series of articles from 1902 to 1904, the year her _History of the Standard Oil Company_ came out. Those who read her report could scarcely avoid agreeing with her evaluation that Rockefeller "... has introduced into business a spy system of the most odious character. He has turned commerce from a peaceful pursuit to war, and honeycombed it with cruel and corrupt practice, turned competition from honorable emulation to cutthroat struggle."
   
   The Supreme Court in 1911 ruled that Standard Oil's abuses required its breakup, based mostly on evidence that Tarbell had produced. Rockefeller never directly addressed the charges, and he had expertly arranged his business affairs so that he seldom had to testify in any legal proceedings against the company. He barely mentioned Tarbell herself, except to lump her conveniently with "socialists and anarchists"; he was unable to see that Tarbell was an enthusiast for American capitalism fairly conducted. Weinberg's smoothly-written book is a combination of biographies and a narrative centering on one of the first instances of investigative journalism that made a difference. Weinberg says that Tarbell's work is "arguably the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written," and he makes the assessment seem a just one. There have been subsequent examples of how the labor of journalists has resulted in monumental social changes, but it is good to have this book as a reminder of the one that got the ball rolling.



3. Author Steve Weinberg writes that Ida Tarbell's expose of John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Company is "arguably the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written." As a veteran investigative journalist myself, I wouldn't argue with that because Steve Weinberg is one of the best investigative biographers in our imperiled craft. I say "imperiled" because the newspapers that largely support our work are in an alarming state of decline. Will investigative reporting become a too-expensive luxury? What a horrible tragedy that would be. Ida Tarbell and the legions of investigative journalists who followed her example have been the watchdogs who have made democracy work. This book shows the critical importance of that role, as performed more than a century ago. Thanks to Steve Weinberg for bringing the pioneering Ida Tarbell back to life again today.



4. Having no knowledge of Ida Tarbell but interested in Rockefeller, I found this book a great read.
   The author covers the subject in enough detail to make you knowledgable but doesn't get into minutia and bore you.
   Ms. Tarbell is definitely a good role model for women and journalists of both sexes. Most current day journalists could revisit her standards.
   The book provides plenty of pictures and tells a great story of a forgotten event of the period.



5. Steve Weinberg, one of America's most accomplished Journalism professors, has taken a "busman's holiday," in writing this fascinating and beautifully researched book. Weinberg, an inspiration to several generations of University of Missouri students, has written about one of his own heroes who no doubt helped influence his rather prestigious academic pathway. He has most satisfyingly delved into the epic battle of a single, brilliant young woman who successfully defined the power of the free press in 1904, pioneering investigative journalist Ida Tarbell who "muckraked" up the expensive and deep sediment underneath Standard Oil, standing alone against the awesome wealth and power of John D. Rockefeller.
   Prof. Weinberg is as complete and intimate with his subject as any historian. Infused into this book is his profound sense of appreciation of the fierce, burning integrity and inspirational relentlessness of Ida Tarbell. He makes an excellent case for her monumental, fearless work "The History of the Standard Oil Company," as being the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written. The rich and world-saving traditions of the press in the twentieth century in many ways find their roots in Tarbell and her publisher Samuel McClure, who proved that the battle armor of a democratic society is its free press; without it, the people live in the dark.
   This book will give the reader a completely refreshed pride in discovering that history can be riveting. In addition, it holds tremendous insight into the late-nineteenth century roots of the women's movement for equal rights, as well as the revolution for the rights of America's workers at the hands of monopolistic, big business. Ida Tarbell will become one of your new heroes.

5 comments about Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America.

1. First of all, if you start this book, you really should push yourself to get through the first half. That part is brutal, and unfortunately, if people stop there, it might only confirm some shallow stereotypes about black men. McCall and his crew were very dangerous, destructive teenagers. However, in recounting the later part of his maturity, McCall makes clear that there are still powerful societal influences that instill frustration, rage, and self-hatred in black people, forces that can make it difficult to resist lashing out or crumbling inward with compulsive, abusive, and self-destructive behavior.
   
   America costs itself so much talent by continuing to abuse its non-white people, subtly beating them down in countless ways, rather than building them up so they can see, live, and act the good that is in all of us. (The obvious disparities in black and white school systems is only one of the more obvious ways that this collective beat-down still goes on.) McCall shows how he managed to draw on a solid family background and his own willpower to push away the negative messages and temptations of his environment. He also does an excellent job of showing how an instilled self-hatred prevents so many others from living up to their potential. Thank you Mr. McCall for showing us your exemplary self so honestly, warts and all.



2. Whether you admire or despise the author, this is an outstanding book. I bought it for my library (large international school in Switzerland) and read it when it first came out in the early 90's. It moved me in a way few books ever have, and I read a lot. I've just re-read it (March 2008) and it is as powerful to me now as it was over a decade ago.
   
   Lots of reviews on amazon judge this author one way or another, but I leave it to the reader to think critically and honestly about the book's message.
   
   I just purchasd this book for my current library (large school in Hong Kong). I recommend it for high schools as the issues of adolescence and personal growth are very relevant to teens, it supports humanities curriculum and introduces debate on human rights, civil rights, racism, responsibility, and much more. I especially recommend it for public libraries in North America as everyone at some point has encountered dilemmas and frustrations such as McCall's (though perhaps not for the same reason or in the same situation). His message is so powerfully positive and hopeful and so brilliantly written, that this is one of my all-time favorite books.



3. I have been an avid reader all of my life but I can't finish reading this book. I can go no further than page 49. This man and anybody like him should be locked up for life, his parents should be in the next cell!!!!! I am a Black woman, the mother of black men, but this book has depressed me and changed the way I think of life forever. Where were the parents, the teachers, churches, and the leaders of the community? My heart goes out to the Black women whose lives could not have turned out as well as Nathan McCall. I cannot think well of Nathan McCall or any other men like him, no way!!!!!!!!



4. They called me "COWBOY". I lived in Prentis Park, a neighborhood that Nathan mentioned in the book, and was a well-known friend of "Praire Dog" who was killed by police after the football game that I too had attended. I read the book not too long after it was published. My sister stumbled onto it and sent it to me knowing that I would recognize the characters. To say the least, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. It was like reading my own diary. I remember the rioting that happened after Praire Dog was killed like it was yesterday. Nathan didn't hide any truths, and perfectly nailed every detail. I thought the entire book was ASTOUNDING. I'm ordering copies to take with me on our next family reunion for my siblings whom obviously were also there, and should no doubt find it just as astounding...



5. I was not to moved by this book. I asked my son to read it out loud to me and of course he paused the majority of the time because of the profanity in the book. Young black men have a tendency to grow up around profane language and circumstances that are not accomodating to their life and the writer should have took into consideration that if their are a lack of black male role models for young males that makes them seek something or someone that they can relate whether that is good or bad. The title "A young black man in America" with this type of language is promoting profanity which promotes mental negativity and the lack of need to broaden their language and keep a limited vocabulary. This book is a written confirmation that not only should you think before you speak but think before you write. Their is not enough respect among young males to begin with and the writer can relate to them without nurturing their profane vocab or disrespectful mentality. We need writers that have a positive impact on the reader and not one that promotes the typical behavior I see from most young black males.

5 comments about Mark Twain: A Life.

1. I've read several biographies of Twain over the years, none more beautifully written than this book. It reads like a cultural history of the US during Twain's lifetime. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of Twain's work.



2. I was disappointed by this biography of one of the most interesting and popular figures in American history and letters. Unlike so many of the other reviewers I found this biography to be excruciatingly long and boring. It takes quite an effort by a writer to make as fascinating a person as Mark Twain dull, but the author succeeds. The writer kept throwing in his personal asides in an effort to be clever, but instead was merely annoying. The writing style is awkward and stilted and it takes a real effort to push through to the end. The author seems to be trying to direct attention to himself as much as the subject. This style makes the 722 pages seem twice as long.



3. This biography is a well written, comprehensive account of Twain's life. What is missing is a coherent, compelling life story or insightful interpretation of Twain's creative process.



4. Powers gives us a terrific chronology, densely packed information, charming and insightful prose, plenty of great Twain quotes and anecdotes, empathy for the tragedies of Twain's life and twitting of his oddities when called for. I found it quite remarkable that the book could be so factual and also so readable. There's an excellent index, solid background references, and many laugh-out-loud moments. Adding to the pleasaure of this reading experience are some delightful and - new to me - photographs. Strongly recommend this outstanding biography.



5. This thorough and well-written biography of a gifted indivudual leaves one with the feeling of having known Mark Twain, Samuel Clemmens, personally. The book offers two additional values: One is getting a glinpse of what life was like during the late 19th century. The other is what it meant to experience the Civil War from a state so far removed from the action that the war seemed to be going on in another country.