2 comments about Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War (Southern Classics Series).

1. This is a must read for anyone who desires a true understanding of the war and aftermath before our historical perspectives are forever changed with the new history being written by liberal professors. It clearly accounts for the crimes of the reconstruction which is a topic that is definitely being rewritten by those that desire to protray the US as some type of force for good.



2. Genl Richard Taylor offers his insights of the "late unpleasantness". Unlike too many other popular civil war personalities who wrote first-hand accounts, Taylor usually avoids the name-calling and back-stabbing others seem to readily participate in. His immediate supervisor, Genl Edmund Kirby Smith,however, doesn't fare too well by Taylor's standards. Taylor holds Smith responsible for failing to allow him the necessary reinforcements needed to route Banks in the Red River Campaign (North Louisiana). Taylor indeed offers a unique perspective, as the son of Zachary Taylor, as well as having served in the Eastern and Western Theaters. A well-bred, highly educated man, Taylor's writing is filled with allusions to Classic Literature and military folk-lore, which is often muddlesome. Also annoying is the lack of ANY maps -a real problem when discussion of the various bayous, rivers and small towns fill page after page. Definately recommended for those of Confederate ilk - especially his remarks on post-war happenings.

5 comments about From the Place of the Dead: The Epic Struggles of Bishop Belo of East Timor.

1. Many Americans have probably never heard of East Timor, and most of us--including those who are active followers of world affairs--would probably have some difficulty pinpointing it on a map. Arnold Kohen does a remarkable job of introducing this unfamiliar land. It's very hard not to feel sympathy and a healthy dose of admiration for the inhabitants of this long embattled nation. The book simultaneously serves as a hagiography of East Timor's heroic favorite son, and Bishop Belo's extraordinary life greatly enhances the work's inspirational level.

   Among East Timor's striking characteristics is the fact that it may be the strongest seat of Catholicism on Earth today. Over 85% Catholic (less than half was in the 1960's) its rate of practicing members puts most other countries to shame. The cathedral's 6 a.m. weekday Mass regularly has an overflow crowd of 1000+. John Cardinal O'Connor once told Bishop Belo how envious he was at East Timor's teeming seminarians. Even its Indonesian occupiers concede the Church's massive influence. Although they disdain Bishop Belo for his tireless devotion to human rights, they often unhappily allow him to mediate disputes with Timorese resistance fighters.

   The East Timorese greatly need this faith because the world has turned a blind eye toward the genocide inflicted upon them. Those of us in America who seethed under the reign of Bill Clinton probably never realized how culpable he was for tacitly approving these crimes against humanity. The author on numerous occasions sites examples where the United States after decades of inexplicable silence at Indonesia predation became a veritable proponent when Clinton--abandoning his campaign rhetoric about the suffering East Timorese--wanted expanded trade with the highly populated interloper. Bishop Belo is probably the only person in history to be awarded a Nobel peace Prize without a word of praise or congratulations from the Unites States Government because it was bestowed at a very inconvenient time for pending trade deals.

   The island nation faces an uncertain future, and all Catholics and others concerned with human rights should monitor the situation closely. Despite the unending brutal assaults bravely endured by the East Timorese citizens, their bold faith is a good omen that eventually their struggle will be victorious.




2. Many books have already been written about the tragic events of East Timor between 1998 and today, namely since when the regime of president Suharto of Indonesia collapsed, and the territory started on its slow, exciting, yet very painful path towards independence. Some books are more academic, others more journalistic and speculative. This book by Arnold Kohen, a long-time East Timor expert, makes it clear that the author is no academic or journalist in search of quick success. He is someone who has followed East Timor for a while, and has also been active and become known as a prominent East Timor lobbyist. He has now been able to recollect in this book some excellent material, excellently edited, about Monsignor Belo's role in the struggle for independence. The book is written in a vivid style, it is chilling, it is direct, yet (despite the rather eye-catching and shocking title) without leaving the place to any sensationalism... All the book says is, very unfortunately, totally true. Whether Bishop Belo's struggles could be defined as "epic" is another matter. Meanwhile, this book makes a strong and meaningful contribution to knowledge on the recent events, and also makes excellent, educative and even pleasant, if shocking, reading.



3. Now that Archbishop Belo has been driven into exile, and his beloved Timor transformed into an abbatoir, this superb book is more important than ever. I will not praise Belo, save to say that I hope that he is eventually canonized. I will just say one thing. This book reveals such a consistent record of perfidy, stupidity, and cupidity on the part of the United States government as to make even the most patriotic man or woman ashamed of being an American. As readers of some of my other reviews will know, I am fairly Conservative Republican. Reading of Fords, Reagans , and Bushes short-sightedness and incompetence in the matter of Timor saddened and enraged me.The only ( slight)point in their favor is that the Democratic Presidents, Carter, and Clinton, were just as bad; Carter through simple incompetence, and Clinton through cowardice and greed. Let it be asaid and said plainly: The Clinton campaign became so dependent on the Riady families money that they turned blind eye to the atroicities occuring in Timor. With the laudable exception of a few republican members of congress such as Malcolm Wallop and Frank Wolf, practically no American public figure-Republican, democrat, or independent- has spoke out on the horrors occuring in Timor. Now, when it may well be too late, the world has begun to wake up.It is time for all men and women of good will, of all political and religous faiths, to cry out "Enough". We cannot be so dependent on the raw materials and sweat shop produced sneakers and toys emanating from Indonesia that we would let theese horrors continue. I am going to phone and write every member of congress I know, asking them that they vote to discontinue ALL foriegn aid to Indonesia. I will also openly ask ALL presidential candidates- Republican, Democratic, and independent,if they will continue to support our bankrupt policy toward this outlaw state, Indonesia. I hope EVERY responsible American does the same.I beg my fellow Americans;have the courage to read this book, and the sensitivity to be outraged by what it contains.



4. Please note that the introduction is by "The Dalai Lama," NOT The "Dali Lami", as it currently is written above. This should be changed. There are an additional reviews of this book in Library Journal of May 15, also Publisher's Weekly May 10, 1999.



5. From the Place of the Dead: The Epic Struggles of Bishop Belo of East Timor By Arnold S. Kohen

   Review by David Hinkley, former Chairman, Amnesty International USA

   Arnold Kohen's moving biography of Roman Catholic Bishop Carlos X. Belo of East Timor illuminates one of modern history's most horrific human rights tragedies. Belo, the first Catholic bishop ever to receive the Nobel Prize for Peace (1996) is revealed as a great humanitarian in the tradition of Archbishop Romero and Desmond Tutu. In this age of cynicism and disillusionment, Belo exemplifies the power of faith, dedication and indefatigable effort to reshape the history of a terrorized and nearly forgotten people.

   Kohen, formerly an investigative reporter with NBC news, skilfully balances lyrical evocations of a lush land, its tortured people and their unsilenceable champion with incisive analysis of the political and church forces with which Belo has contended in his successful struggle to bring his people's plight to the world's attention. Since Indonesia invaded the island territory, for centuries a Portuguese colony, the Indonesian army's campaign of brutal suppression has left an estimated 200,000 dead, of a population of less than 700,000. Beginning with the acquiescence of President Ford and Secretary Kissinger at the time of the 1975 invasion, through provision of deadly OV10 Bronco counter-guerrilla planes and other military hardware, the United States has played a complicitous role. This has only recently been mitigated - and to a lethally insufficient extent - by Clinton Administration diplomatic overtures to Jakarta.

   Such examinations share these pages with indelible images of Belo the man. Among the most emblematic is a glimpse of Belo the boy athlete and mischief maker donning a grapefruit bishop's hat in a foreshadowing of his astonishing future. Belo's great love of East Timor's young people and his sardonic wit emerge as defining traits, along with the courage to confront a combination of forces that would wither almost anyone. Against a backdrop of genocide and international intrigue, Kohen has created a luminous, touching and fascinating portrait of an inspiring and unforgettable man. This one is for the ages.

No comments about Slaves' Champion, The.

No comments about Wendell Willkie: Hoosier Internationalist.

3 comments about Overworld.

1. Although the writing is not the most polished this book has a lot of information that will be new to the neophyte espionage readers and even manages to sneak in a few things that are very good for every day life that most of us either don't know or ignore. It is written from a very personal point of view, as if the author was just sitting in your living room and was an acquaintance. The problem I find with that is that most people, including myself, will take anything someone we don't really know with a grain of salt and this takes away from the book; there's a point in the book where you begin to doubt the veracity of it. Most of the non-espionage claims can be authenticated easily enough but there's a lingering doubt as to the participation of the author in these events the way he described it. The book is worth reading.



2. How this young, tall, white, American businessman who resisted the CIA's earliest recruitment efforts was turned into a spy and then managed to get himself into a room with Osama bin Laden, and even managed to hand-feed the most dangerous man in the world, and to infiltrate many of the most terrifying places in the Islamic world and in Africa and Central America--all while remaining firmly but secretly on our side--is an amazing story, endearingly told, and every bit as entertaining as any novel you will ever read. Read this book. You will love it.



3. Months and months ago, I read the review of this book in the Washington Post. I had a look at the hardcover book in a store, but didn't buy it. Now that it's in paperback I couldn't resist, and WOW, I should've gotten it earlier. Although this book doesn't directly attempt to explain what is going on in the world today, particularly in the Middle East, and in the halls of power in Washington, London, and Riyadh, among other places, it provides so much historical insight into all those places, and all the problems we have there, that it did help me see the world and its problems in an all new light. Finally I understand not only the problems we have in dealing with those parts of the world, but also the problems our so-very-maligned intelligence services have in operating effectively in those places. And beyond educational value, WHAT A GREAT STORY! This book is a great read, better than fiction, because it's true.

2 comments about William G. Milliken: Michigan's Passionate Moderate.

1. This book is an excellent reminder of the impact and leadership of one of Michigan's greatest governors. There is a wave of new books out in the last few years that remind Republicans like me that protection of the environment used to be a Republican plank and that it needs to nailed back into the GOP platform. This book will resonate in the Great Lakes region since Milliken was so instrumental in the founding of several important organizations designed to protect the Lakes. As the President of the Michigan Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection, this book will be in my briefcase everywhere I go!



2. Recommended for two categories of readers, 1) anyone interested in the recent history of the state of Michigan; 2) people interested in reviewing the governance of a moderate Republican, with the best recent example being Gov. Christine Whitman of NJ.
   
   Milliken had a profound impact on Michigan during his 14-year tenure; that impact endures to the current time, both good and bad. Like Christine Whitman's book, Milliken is a study of a modern politician that continues to embrace the legacy of Lincoln while the GOP continues to fall prey to the southern boll weevils that opposed Lincoln's principles.
   
   The primary weakness of this book is that it yields very little analysis on the costs and benefits of Milliken's policy initiatives, which I believe seriously limits the value of this biography. Instead the author writes more like a journalist doing a hard news story; offering little insight on the impact Milliken had on the state. For those that follow Michigan politics, this will not be a problem since its easy to score his performance as you read and remember the policies of Milliken and the condition of our current economy and State, for example his creation of the single business tax, financial support for Detroit, fierce support for individual rights and his leadership and example in regards to government doing the right thing rather than the politically expedient act. Milliken was his day's anti-Tom Delay and in some ways, also his day's LBJ.
   
   For example, I believe the author could have done a better job of lauding the governor for his pro-environment stance and the benefits we gained from his early commitment to protecting our natural resources. On the other hand, no criticism is given for the horrible bottle bill he instigated that harms business and consumers alike as other states came up with much more comprehensive and optimal methods to administrate recyclables or his institution of the single business tax that scared off potential businesses from locating to Michigan.
   
   Another subject that warrants a serious analysis is Milliken's failed bet on Detroit. While the author captures the relationship between Milliken and Detroit and its mayor Coleman Young, there is no commentary on how the state's "investment" was eventually proven to be good money chasing bad when other, better opportunities, like enticing more business around the universities or better investing in Northern Oakland County may have increased and diversified our job base rather than subsidizing a dying city.
   
   For all its limitations, I'm glad I invested the time to read about a good man whose personal character and qualities are virtually non-existent in today's political arena, which is our loss.

No comments about Memoirs.

4 comments about Ana Pauker: The Rise and Fall of a Jewish Communist.

1. "Ana Pauker" is an excellent and compelling account that blows old notions of East European communists out of the water. While not glossing over Ana Pauker's serious delusions and often cynical compromises, Robert Levy convincingly demonstrates that Pauker was remarkably resistant to Soviet dictates during the most perilous period of Stalin's reign. Meticulously documented with a massive amount of archival documents and interviews of participants and eye-witnesses, this wonderfully written book is a must-read for anyone interested in communist and East European Jewish history.



2. "Ana Pauker" is an excellent and compelling biography that blows old notions about East European communists out of the water. While hardly glossing over Ana Pauker's serious delusions and often cynical compromises, Robert Levy meticulously and convincingly demonstrates that Pauker was remarkably resistant to Soviet dictates during the most perilous years of Stalin's reign. This is a fascinating, well-written account based on recently unearthed communist archives and personal interviews of participants and eye-witnesses. Anyone interested in communist history or contemporary East European Jewish history will find this book utterly informative.



3. This is a sound and wise biography of Ana Pauker. An exceptional volume. An examination of the Romanian communist system and its leaders was long due--beyond false anxieties. And Levy does it so superbly, blending history with years of archival and interview-based research. A lucid cut in the political life of a controversial Romanian communist leader, Ana Pauker.



4. Sorry, no arguments will convince me to relativize the following fact: at the time of her political activity, Ana Pauker had to know the criminal (genocidal, to be accurate) nature of the political party she was a leader of. My mother still cringes when she remembers the slogan "Ana Pauker si cu Dej - baga spaima in burgeji" (Ana Pauker and [Gheorghiu] Dej scare the bourgeois) cried out at forced mass rallies. The "bourgeois" mentioned in this aggresive rhime had reasons to be scared of Pauker. Hundreds of thousands Romanians are estimated to have been emprisoned for political reasons, thousands of them tortured and killed, burried without a grave. Pauker believed she can "change things from inside?". Would _you_ join the Nazi party (for example) to improve its ethics???

5 comments about Have No Fear: The Charles Evers Story.

1. While his younger Brother Medgar gets more attention. This man is a Mississippi legend as well. He is not afraid to admit his vices, his faults, and his triumphs. He is a college grad, fighter, ladies man, pimp, Civil rights Leader, Politician, a man who although he follows non-violence, is not afraid to confront White Racists or African-Americans he disagrees with. It is a interesting life story.



2. I first met Charles Evers in June of 1999, at my first Medger Evers/B.B. Homecoming Event. Charles Evers is a no frills, hardworking individual, who knows how to get things done! I finally picked up this book after my third homecoming. This year's homecoming took place on the 41st Anniversary of Medger's death. I, hereby salute Mr. Evers for everything he's ever done, for every risk he ever took, for all the successes he has made, and for writing this book. If you want to better understand what it was like for the negro people of Mississippi, in the 60's, 70's, and 80's READ THIS BOOK! If you want to know how a man can be riddled with hate and then go on to do the right things for his people, in a non-violent, yet persistant way, READ THIS BOOK! And then plan a trip to Jackson next June and pay homage to the Ever's brothers, attend the Medger's Memorial Service and meet many of the people who helped create the Mississippi we know today; then and have a great time mingling with the great people of Mississippi at the two, all-day music events, which are headlined by none other than Mr. B.B. King.



3. while I didn't agree with everything he said in the book I thought he was very honest in writing about his life and about his brother. it's defintley worth reading.



4. Written by Medgar Evers' lesser known brother, this is a powerful account of the civil rights movement in the south by someone who lived it. Order it. Buy it.



5. Gives a real sense of what it's like to grow up hated, and to learn to hate, and then to painstakingly give up hate. A loving ode to Medgar Evers, and an unflinching look at Charles Evers. Humor, too.

2 comments about Lying Down With The Lions.

1. Forget your ideology, reader; this is a terrific book. Written by the most left-wing member of Congress, Lying Down takes you on an exciting journey that was Ron Dellums' career. Whether opposing Reagan's military buildup or denouncing apartheid and the Gulf War, Dellums stays true to his principles.
   
   As a political science junkie, I especially enjoyed the chapters on Dellums' congressional career. Though an ultraliberal, Dellums is pragmatic enough to form coalitions with conservatives of both parties to advance his agenda. What was impressive is Dellums' willingness to admit when he failed, or atleast only partly succeeded. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend.



2. Dellum is a humanist and intellectual, who has lived through extremely unjust treatment while leading African Americans to political equality. All intellectuals, and every conscientous person in general, have a lot to learn from his dignified and persistent struggle, through his witty and humorous story-telling.