5 comments about Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr..

1. John D. Rockefeller Sr. was probably the biggest, baddest robber baron in 19th century America, and also its leading philanthropist. Many writers scorned his ruthlessness, notably Ida Tarbell, who wrote two books on Rockefeller and his company, Standard Oil. Author Ron Chernow digs deeper, through masses of Rockefeller family documents, to present the founder of the Rockefeller dynasty as a "man of flesh and bone and soul." He covers Rockefeller's ugly, dramatic and even shameful aspects, while concurrently demonstrating his business acumen and his philanthropic leadership amid a remarkable generation of business barons, including William Randolph Hearst, Jay Gould, William Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan. An amazing portrait emerges of an almost invisible, rather megalomaniac ascetic who wanted to fulfill God's will. He became extremely wealthy, gave millions away, and believed that he brought the benefit of inexpensive oil products to all mankind. getAbstract highly recommends this multifaceted biography.



2. This is a really excellent book on Rockefeller. It made me laugh; it helped me to understand who he was as a person; it showed how he became who he was; and it gave me a true and complete understanding of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Sr. in an unbiased way.
   
   I read the negative reviews on here, and I want to refute them. Some say the author clearly favored Rockefeller; I felt quite the opposite at some points and think a really objective depiction was achieved. Others say the editing was poor; I didn't find a single spelling or grammatical error during the read. In terms of its editing, it was fine.
   
   If you want to know who Mr. Rockefeller, Sr. was, this is the book for you.



3. Hopefully it is good, Kinda Long but I am looking foward to having time to read the whole novel.



4. Rockefeller is reported to have searched endlessly for golf balls lost in an attempt to recover them, yet could nearly buy the world - why?
   
   Objective biographies are important to show that it is rarely money or greed that inspires the mind of man; it is the pursuit of the solution to the particular problem that he has defined worthy of solution. Both great inventions and great works of art have been formed as a result of the tiny seeds of construction or of destruction that engage the human spirit.
   
   Without it, are we not all merely reduced to automated machine status, the robots of today for the future of tomorrow?
   
   Is the mind of man made for the pursuit of money, or for the pursuit of satisfaction of what he perceives is worthy of addressing, focusing his attention upon the manner and the object of his passion?
   
   What makes people tick is a source of inspiration often overlooked in the attempt to idolize or endow humanity, and far too often, misconstrued by mistaken others who aim to profit from that misinterpretation.
   
   Molded soles, like molded fingerprints, rarely sit anyone else. Why then do we not concentrate upon the perspective of what men aim for, and why, rather than what they accomplish, and its yield?



5. 
   This book is the best biography I've read thus far.
   Ron Chernow has a deep understanding of
   economics and history. He uses this understanding to
   paint an accurate, balanced and complete picture of
   the Rockerfeller dynasty with J.D. Rockerfeller as the
   center of their powerful universe.
   
   
   To emphasise just how well this book was written,
   consider the fact that I spent my whole
   Christmas weekend reading it! I couldn't move from my
   library or sleep until it was done. Though the book
   weighs in at approximately seven hundred pages, it is
   reads like a novel, a trait which makes it both
   palatable and pithy.
   
   

   Synopsis

   
   Rockerfeller has all the traits of a classic self made hero. His
   antecedents are not amazing. He grew up in a poor
   family featuring a bigamist foot-lose father who was
   hardly ever around. His father taught John painful
   lessons in business and human behaviour. John's father
   would regularly tell John to jump from his high chair
   into his father's arms. Once, in order to teach John
   never to trust anyone, he told John to jump. He then
   walked away, leaving John to slam painfully into the ground.
   John's mother was the backbone of the family; quiet,
   anassuming and hardworking. He assumed the role of
   surrogate father and dedicated his life to ensuring his
   mother and the rest of his family were safe, secure
   and happy.
   
   
   When Rockerfeller got into the business world, he
   began as a book keeper. It was from these early
   beginnings that he showed the traits that would be the
   core of his success. He was meticulous and diligent
   when keeping financial records and accounts. He would
   manage his own funds as well as the company's money down to the
   decimal point! Like Warren Buffet after him,
   J.D. Rockerfeller would emphasis that "numbers are
   everything."
   
   
   J.D also proved that discipline is more important than
   intelligence. In school, he wasn't the sharpest blade
   in the set but his slow, diligent, determined and
   disciplined approach to study ensured his success. He
   emphasised this in his business dealings as well. With
   this method, he created the jaggernaut monopoly of
   Standard Oil. He began by consolidating the mass of oil
   refineries and wells in Cleveland under his umbrella.
   Later, after recruiting his alter ego, Henry Flagler,
   they would proceed to dominate the oil industry
   thoughout the world.
   
   
   Rockerfeller also exemplified a reticence that would
   inspire respect and fear in his enemies while planting
   admiration and loyalty in his friends. At board
   meetings, he was often known to lie back in a settee
   with his eyes closed as he let his leiutenants debate.
   Later, he would discuss these issues in great detail,
   as though he had absorbed and understood everything
   without skipping a beat. Within his company, he was a
   ghost. Employees would never see him arrive or watch
   him leave. However, they were made acutely aware of
   his presence when he popped up at some underlings desk
   and discussed their jobs and records in great detail. He
   knew everything and everyone.
   
   
   Later on, Standard Oil would become the focus of the
   anti-trust movement. The Spellman Act was passed in
   order to curb its power. In later years,
   Rockerfeller's juggernaut would be split up with
   unforseen results. Instead of destroying his wealth,
   as his detractors and politicians had hoped, his
   wealth and that of his shareholders trippled!
   Rockerfeller's success was enduring and could not be
   stopped or limited.
   
   
   Rockerfeller dedicated the first half his life to becoming the
   richest man on the planet. He then dedicated the
   remaining half to becoming the greatest philanthropist
   in the planet. His medical foundations brought
   back the disciplined approach he applied to business to
   the medical field that had erstwhile been dominated by
   quacks and homeopaths. Were it not for Rockerfeller's
   contributions to medicine, modern health might not be
   as advanced as it is now.
   
   
   After living to the ripe old age of ninety eight,
   Rockerfeller had achieved more than most people achive in a
   hundred lifetimes. He was one of those individuals so
   powerful that he forever changed the destiny of
   humanity forever.
   
   
   
   Something in the nature of J.D. Rockerfeller had to
   occur in America, and it is all to the good of the
   world that he was tight-lipped, consistent and
   amazingly free from vulgar vanity, sensuality and
   quarrelsomeness. His cold prsistence and ruthlessness
   may arouse something like horror, but for all that he
   was a forward-moving force, a constructive power.
   
   --H. G. Wells. The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind.
   
   
   

   Conclusion

   
   This book is mandatory reading for all students of
   success. It teaches the nature of the monopolist, the
   spirit of the leader, the hunger of the rich, the
   ambition of the visionary, the structure of a dynasty
   and the soul of the innovator.
   
   
   I've idolized Rockerfeller my whole life. Reading this
   biography gave me an understanding of both his faults
   and his virtues. It humanised him. The fact that
   Rockerfeller is so much like a next door neighbour
   leads the reader to a very important conclusion:
   success is not about nature, it's about nurture. It
   is not about intelligence but of intent. It is not
   about destiny but of decision. It is not about magic,
   it is about method.
   
   Each of us can make the decision to be successful. All
   we have to do is practice the method by mimicking that
   of the giants who have come before us. That is the
   Billionaire Way.

5 comments about The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed.

1. I absolutely loved this book. I only wish I had been more cognizant of the events as they were happening (I was young at the time). Forden truly captures all of the bastardly splendor of Gucci and made me nostalgic for the Tom Ford days.



2. This is a very interesting book about the Gucci family, but it at times delved too much into all the business and acquisitions. It got at times really complexed. Having said that, it was a really good and interesting book. It was almost as if the author didn't want the story to end. I am glad I read it.



3. Yes, the Gucci story is intriguing. And yes, Ms. Forden provides some historical facts. But remember, this is a book. It should be readable. Ms. Forden's constant and trivial inclusion of far too much 'stuff' is more annoying than enlightening.
   
   This book could be condensed into 200 pages. Thoughtfully written and entertaining by someone other than Ms. Forden. It is a laborious task to tread through the boring an completely unnecessary details. Ms. Forden, no one cares about the work history of then-Head-of BergdorfGoodman.
   
   Poorly written, this book is one long magazine article. Paragraph after paragraph of unnecessary filler. I suggest you find some other way to capture the history of the Gucci company.



4. The subtitle said it all: "A sensational story of murder, madness, glamour and greed". The perfect combination for a successful novel that in reality has been real life. Read it!



5. I have inherited and purchased a few Gucci pieces, and have been so fond of the quality of their products that I thought I would read this book as a "light read." I was completely surprised by the first chapter that I just kept on turning the pages. It's anything but a light read, but a great read! This book really does have it all, including a tremendous education into the fashion empire. I also love the Italian detail and family disfunction. The author did a fantastic job of weaving the intimate details of a family, a business, and a family business. I have not lost an ounce of respect for the Gucci product, in fact I am more of a fan. Blood, sweat, and tears.

5 comments about Broken on the Back Row: A Journey Through Grace and Forgiveness.

1. This book tells the story about redemption and reconcilation with God and man. It is filled with lots of bible principals and if you have been thru divorce and need healing this is a great book to read to inspire you with hope.



2. Thank you, Sandi for writing this book! At times after my own divorce I took on far too much responsibility for it --- and felt like a failure. This book is a wonderful reminder that God loves us --- before, during, and after our mistakes --- or other people's misunderstandings. This is an excellent book that will remind the reader of God's mercy and care.
   
   Barbara Sheldon, M.S.W.
   I also highly recommend: Happily Remarried: *Making Decisions Together *Blending Families Successfully* Building a Love That Will Last



3. Sandi Patti redefined what Christian music was in the 1980s. No longer was it a four-piece band singing three chord melodies that everybody could sing along with. Whether that is good or bad, of course, is the personal judgment of each individual. But in the pantheon of change, it was Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and Michael W. Smith who changed the face of CCM in the 1980s. (Another change was facilitated by Steven Curtis Chapman in the 1990s).
   
   Until this book came out, the only thing we knew about Sandi Patti was the gossip, both good and bad (mostly bad). But let's give the girl credit - she got right to the point and confessed to the adultery in the introduction. She also told many a story that did not present her in the most flattering of spotlights.
   
   "Broken On The Back Row" is not a therapeutic book in the sense that it will be used as a clinical manual for Christian shrinks. What it is, quite frankly, is the public confession and memoirs of the most talented singer of her era. And what Sandi Patti taught us is that everything has a price. Her price for fame and fortune? The loss of her husband and family, the loss of public trust, and her loss of an effective ministry for Jesus Christ. This book does restore some of the ministry while it leaves the trust in a vacuum.
   
   Many of the stories are heartbreaking, like her leaving her brother in a hospital possibly dying (he recovered) to go do a Christian concert. In most cases but admittedly not all, Sandi puts the blame on herself for what happened.
   
   If Sandi Patti found the God she so deeply sang about and was restored to Him, then that says more than any of her own words can.
   
   So why only four stars?
   
   Well, while I do recommend this book to people, for example, who have endured or inflicted upon another an extramarital affair, it is not for the young hero worshipper (i.e. teenagers) or 'judgmental church person.' Many will never be satisfied with Sandi's confession no matter what she did.
   
   And personally, I'm more than a little hesitant at confessional tell all books because what is the profit motive behind it? I can understand cynics who would say, "Her music career is on the skids so she wrote her life story for money."
   
   While that may be true, let's not forget: she could have whitewashed everything if she wanted. And Sandi comes out looking pretty bad in this book.
   
   Enjoy it.



4. I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound judgmental but Sandy Patty admits to making poor choices (very admirable)and after seeking restoration and finding peace from God, she married the man she had the affair with and lives happily ever after! Am I missing something here, because I just don't get it?? One thing I do get though, is that her career never recovered. But I do give her credit for one thing, though. She has never compromised in her music.



5. This book brings you back to basics. The basics of life and a walk with God. Sandi is not only honest in this book, but she is humble as well. I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with life and daily walk with Christ. Thanks Sandi for bringing me back to basics.

3 comments about The Vanderbilt Women: Dynasty of Wealth, Glamour and Tragedy.

1. I HAD NO IDEA HOW INDUSTRIOUS THESE WOMEN WERE. I LIVE NEAR THE BILTMORE AND THIS INSPIRED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THE HISTORY OF THIS FAMILY. THE MEN ARE INTERESTING BUT THE WOMEN FANTASTIC. THEY DID IT ALL AND WERE A GUTSY BUNCH. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN ANTICIPATING THE NEXT ROUND.



2. Though the men built the fortune, their women spent. They also took up social causes not always popular @ the time..... Their standing memoirals are the Mansions and gardens they created.



3. This is a must read for anyone interested in the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts were a huge part of it, and the women of the family are as dynamic as the men, in spite of the Commodore's opinion of them. Included in the book are little known figures, such as the Commodore's much put-upon wife and daughters. I found this book hard to put down and highly recommend it, especially in the newly available paperback form.

5 comments about Train Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith.

1. This woman is such a piece of "white trash" and so jealous of her beautiful half sister Vicki. The book is filled with contradictions and stories (pure b.s.) about her life. No one cares about Donna whatever her name is. She is certainly a "user loser" and it is plain to see why Anna wanted nothing to do with her. Most of the information is stolen from other books about Anna. Anna must have gotten her looks from Virgie's side of the family because try as she might....Donna is one homely looking woman. Most of the pictures are of her family. What goes around, comes around. Don't waste your money on this...I bought it used and it wasn't worth the 3.06 I paid for it.



2. To me the book jumped around too much. One minute it talked about her growing up, then about her being married to the old man, and then back to her as a child. I like to read things in chronilogical order and this was not at all like that. The best part was the END!!!



3. I really wanted to like this book. Although I knew Anna Nicole was not brought up in the same househould as her 1/2 sister, I had hoped she could shed some light on some of the cute, child antics sisters usually share. The title of the book was "Train Wreck The and Death of Anna Nicole Smith." However, the book was 80% or more about her sister , Donna's family, friends, children, mother, etc. I believe on some level she was attempting to prove once and for all that Anna Nicole did, indeed interact withthe other side of the family.
   
   From the first page it is obvious that Donna is angry that Vickie, and not herself won the priviledge of becoming, in her own way, an American Idol. Rather than focus on the life of Anna Nicole, Donna focuses on herself, her family, and the relationships she has had with men, etc. There are a series of pictures throughout the book: most of them have nothing with Anna Nicole. It was like having an in-law sit and show you page after page of pictures that are important to them, but which you have no interest in.
   
   I gave this a rating of 3 because there are multiple attempts to explain some of the behavior's of Anna Nicole, and she did seem to have a real concern and sisterly love for her. There were many inconsistancies: in one place Donna states "I have never made any money off of my sisters fame, I refuse to.." However, a couple chapters later she mentions being paid $25,000.00 for an interview with Current Affair. She makes it clear that Vergie,?Anna'smother, had forbidded a relationship with her father or anyhone on his family. Therefore, any knowledge Donna had was either second hand or gotten during the times they would sneak around to see one another.
   
   I am not sorry I read this book, but am glad I borrowed it from the library.



4. Donna Hogan is not her sister! She only met her twice in her whole life and she had never once met Daniel,Anna was told about this book before she died and she said she didn't know who she was,people who are saying they got a better look into Anna's life after reading this book didn't get any real information because how can you know so much about a person that you never really had a connection with? That doesn't work,if you are a fan of Anna's have some respect and don't buy this book Anna wouldn't like it,she tried to have it stopped before she died.



5. I've read alot of books in my life and this one is the absolute worst. Donna Hogan jumps around from topic to topic, endlessly repeating herself, and giving you more information about HER personal life rather than Anna Nicole's. The chapter about Daniel's death starts off about him but since she has no more information than the general public it quickly veers into different directions about other members of her family.
   What amazes me even more is that she had help writing this book. It's truly awful.
   Donna Hogan appears to be a very bitter, jealous woman who feels she did not get her fair share in life, and this may be true. BUT that is not the fault of Anna Nicole, and it has nothing to do with Anna Nicole. From what I could gather she and Anna didn't even live in the same house, and saw very little of each other over the years. They had the same biological father and that's her big claim to fame.
   It's not a total loss though, this book is good for burning in your fireplace, putting under the leg of that wobbly chair in your garage to keep it level, or for shredding and lining your cat's litter box. Just don't attempt to read it.

4 comments about Where the Bodies Are: Final Visits to the Rich, Famous, & Interesting.

1. Since I am an old movie star buff.this book was great



2. Visiting cemeteries is not only a lot of fun, but it is cheap entertainment when visiting a large city. Autor Patricia Brooks has divided the book into regions of the country and provided both pictures and interesting tidbits of the famous and infamous who are buried around the country. More photos in the book would have been desirable, but then the amount of text would have had to have been reduced. Following the information as to who is buried in each of the visited cemeteries, the address, visiting hours, and telephone number is provided for those who plan on a closer look of their own. Many interesting individuals had to be omitted due to the number of people buried in places such as New York and California. However, the book may be on an off-beat subject, but it is, nevertheless, an interesting book on an interesting subject. If you enjoy prowling through cemeteries looking for the graves of notables this book will not disappoint you.



3. I read this book from cover to cover last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will also add that I am already familiar with most of the information covered in this book and I still enjoyed it. I gravehunt for a hobby which is basically as good as saying I've never seen a cemetery I didn't like. Heck, I even waste entire vacations hopping from one cemetery to another. That having been said, here is the scoop on this book.
   This is not a guide for gravehunters per se. It does not provide precise instructions as to where all identified personalities are buried. It also does not contain comprehensive listings of all permanent residents of interest buried in the cemeteries included.
   What this book does do is highlight the best cemeteries in the continental United States. It provides the addresses for these cemeteries, their hours of operation, good information regarding the safety of the areas being visited, and a thumbnail history of each cemetery selected for inclusion. It also may contain a general list of celebrities interred within, as well as mini-biographies of some of the more prominent subjects as well as generalized instructions as to where specific graves are located.
   This information included is about 99+% correct. I did find a couple of errors which I believe were obtained from other sources which have been proven false but continue to be perpetuated in other books and/or publications.
   As for the overall appearance of the book, the publisher did a fantastic job of presenting an appealing package. The photos are very clear and the general layout of the book is not only user friendly but very attractive. Amazingly, this book is very clean in the sense that it was well-written and well-edited. I've seen a lot of really badly done books in the past 5 years or so. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT ONE OF THEM.
   Now for the big question......why buy this book? It is a lot of fun. There have been a lot of books published in recent years covering this subject (i.e., cemeteries). Some are very specific in terms of geographic location, the type of person buried within (movie stars, politicians, historical figures, etc). This book takes those elements and basically is a compilation of the very best of the best. It cuts through a lot of garbage and gives you the ones that tourists will like the best. Whether you want to visit a large number of the cemeteries included or visit a couple of them, this book will provide you with enough information to base your decision on. It is also a neat read.



4. Patricia Brooks brings to her role as food critic for "The New York Times" a sure palate, fluid style and voice of decorous authority. But she often garnishes her reviews with a wry and piquant humor and -- when some meal or dish fails to meet expectation -- can readily throw the pepper and spice.
   It hardly surprises then that the author brings the same sure style, wry humor and zestful approach to what some might regard as a ghoulish undertaking -- cemetery reviews. Making us first aware that -- much more than mere resting places -- they additionally serve as tourist attractions,parks,places to picnic,sit,read,meditate and even in my case,jog -- she guides us not only through final resting places but through American history, culture and sociology.
   It fascinated me to find that pugilistic hero of my Irish youth,Gene Tunney went down for the 'eternal count'in Greenwich -- not far from my own CT 'corner';that the full 40 inches of Tom Thumb lie beneath a "40-foot-high white marble tribute" in Bridgeport;that John Ford -- director of classic westerns like 'Stagecoach' that even in rainy Dublin caused me try to swagger like John Wayne on some cactus-dotted plain -- lies beneath the "grassy land and rolling hills" of a cemetery in Culver City and finally, that the headstone of James Dean, whose appeal -- since all the girls had already fallen for him -- made me feel so inadequate as a teen,is still covered with lipstick kisses, though he would be over 70 were he still alive.
   Pat Brooks has presented us with a thoroughly researched, beautifully written, rich-textured and fully-flavored book that everyone should savor.

5 comments about Remembering Walt.

1. I was very happy while reading this book. I found all the things Walt's aquaintances had to say about him very interesting and credible. Very little seemed sugar coated (as Disney personel seem to be sometimes). I would make the assumption that Walt's personality was portrayed correctly by the many people that knew him. Throughout the course of reading this book I kept thinking about the quote that one amazon reviewer said that made me buy this book in the first place, "makes me wish I knew that man."



2. This book is exactly as one would expect by reading the title. It's just quote after quote from people who knew Walt Disney best. I liked that many of his former employees were interviewed. Since I was familiar with some of the animators, imagineers, and actors it made it a more personal thing for me when reading this book. There are also many pictures that show Walt during all the different periods of his life, though the majority of them are during his successful years heading the Disney corporation. I share the sympathy of another reviewer who said that after reading this book they wished they had known Walt Disney. I think a person who really admires the Disney empire will share the same sentiments about the man who dared to dream.



3. This lavishly illustrated tribute --- first published in 1999 and now released as an oversized trade paperback --- is a must for diehard Disneyites. (Dig the vintage, time-worn color
   cover photo of Uncle Walt, with Cousin Oscar clearly in view.) Amy Boothe Green and Howard Green's text is nothing more than quote after quote from Walt's pals, peers, co-stars, family and friends, all of whom (surprise!) praise The Man Who Would Be King. But it's the vast array of black-and-white and color photographs --- many rare and many never-before-seen, all of which are stuffed into the pages --- that make this a winner. Walt as a young boy. Walt as a young man. Walt at play. Walt at work. Walt with family. Walt with friends. Walt with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Walt with Hayley Mills. Walt with Shirley Temple. Walt with Annette Funicello, who provides the book's most poignant quote: "When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis ... I thought,. "If Mr. Disney were here, I could ask him what I should do. He would know." And, of course, Walt with the Mouse and the Mouseketeers. Noting goofy here. Except Goofy.



4. This is definately a winner! Great little gems from Walt Disney's family, closest friends and colleagues. The pictures are equally wonderful. Great candid shots and personal family photos. This man had more character than Mickey Mouse himself!



5. The pictures were nice. I'm a big Dinsey fan so I pretty much enjoyed this book. It told what people who worked with him thought about him. I gave the book four stars because there were some bad words.

5 comments about American Legacy: The Story of John and Caroline Kennedy.

1. So much has been written about the Kennedys that it's getting a little ridiculous. I guess they make lots of money for the writers who keep rehashing the same old stories. Will this country EVER get over the Kennedys?! Geez, give it a rest.



2. I'm answering my own question by saying, "I don't know." I certainly enjoyed the time I spent on this book. I admired Jackie's dedication to her children, and to teaching them how to deal with their with their legacy. It was neat to see each sibling's unique personality unfold. But I'm not sure if I enjoyed it because John and Caroline are such compelling figures, or because Heyman did a good job. He waffles so much -- in the Schlossberg marriage, either Ed or Caroline is aloof, and either Ed or Caroline is friendly. Carolyn Bessette was either highly demonstrative, or she wasn't. And the passages about JFK Jr's sexual experimentation (which either did or didn't happen) seemed to come out of left field. So while I enjoyed this book, I can't honestly recommend it.



3. 
   the Billy Way interview about John & Carolyn's marriage let me
   
   question everything. Billy Way died eleven years ago.



4. C. David Heymann, John Hankey.
   Both have written about JFK Jr. Now why has Heymann's item come out now? So soon after Hankey's? After so many words written about the Kennedy's?
   
   Perhaps for the same reason Gerald Posner wrote "Case Closed", assuring us that JFK Sr. was killed by LHO, and nobody else? Heymann wants this case closed, too. Good and closed. He'll accuse the quite responsible JFK Jr. of abusing alcohol, as well as being a bad pilot, if that is what it takes.
   
   John Hankey's DVD, The Assassination of JFK Jr. was promoted on Amazon with the following words I couldn't express better, "Overwhelming, jaw-dropping evidence of foul play in the death of John Kennedy Jr., all based on official government documents:"
   
   Heymann barks on cue. Why the heavy handed affirmation of John Jr.'s culpability in the downing of his plane? Even bringing up "alcohol" something no one else has done? This author is some sort of friend? The testimony is very strong that irresponsible behavior was uncharacteristic of John (no--I'm no JFK Jr. fan; I just hate liars and smearers). Publishing companies are carefully chosen by the powers of today, and then they choose their authors carefully. Posner admitted he wrote "Case Closed" because that was the point of view desired by the publishing company who hired him.
   From all accounts, John Jr. was extremely careful, never flew without a flight instructor, and had let the FAA know his plane was approaching. When it did not land in a few minutes, the FAA was bound by law to IMMEDIATELY start a search. They did not do so for an incredible 15 HOURS. Even the Kennedy family could not get them to search until they finally placed a call to the Coast Guard who then called the FAA, who then directed a search many miles away from where the plane went down...
   and that, boys and girls, is only the beginning and it's all on record. As usual, they trust that the public will be a: indifferent, b: forgetful of original news reports, c: gullible, d: fearful of repercussions should they question the officially sanctioned story.
   Even a hard-boiled detective would jerk up and take notice; yet a supposed "sympathetic biographer", Heymann, ignores this glaring misdeed and even invents (?) a new fault for John Jr. of which, he speculates, the departed one may be guilty. How low can we go? The past few years have been instructive on that question, in many different areas of public discourse. But back to John Jr.
   Beware anything Heymann writes. As far as his hauling out the many stories we already know, the only reason this man wrote this book is to get the bloodhounds away from the culprits, who are very, very powerful.
   
   Oh that word, that word--conspiracy--that word which means to "breath together". Dear readers, do you really think there are no plotters of coups and murders who do not "breath together"? JFK Jr. was never the brainiest, but, hey, with what we've got in the Office now, brains are not what it takes. JFK Jr. could have beaten hands down, anyone they put against him. Can't have that, when you're getting ready to do the great take over. Smart or average, JFK Jr. wanted to get to the bottom of certain political crimes, and had published in his magazine, an interview with the mother of the man who killed Rabin in 1995. She said her son was a "manuchurian candidate" and the assassination had been allowed to happen--an inside job, so to speak. JFK Jr. also wanted to get to the bottom of who killed his father. And they couldn't have that, could they?
   btw, check out Hankey on the JFK Sr. murder.



5. this was five hundred pages or so of more than i ever wanted to know about the kennedy family. in my humble opinion, they talked that poor family to death. no one can come out looking good under that kind of scrutiny.

5 comments about The Fortunate Pilgrim.

1. I suppose like a lot of other people I started reading Mario Puzo book the Godfather and just loved the story. I wasn't happy with "The Silician", but I was surprised by this book: "The Fortunate Pilgrim". For a brief summary, this is the story of Lucia Santa an immigrant from Italy living in New York City during the 1930's. Lucia has six children and a bad marriage. Mario Puzo descriptions of the section known as Hells Kitchen are amazing and his detail of the city and hardships that Lucia must endure is awesome. Overall, this book turned out to be one of my favorite Mario Puzo novels and I would highly recommend it.



2. Although it doesn't have the most compelling start, it doesn't take long to warm up to the family in 'The Fortunate Pilgrim'. This is a sad account of early 1900s America, when being an immigrant was noble instead of criminal. Mario Puzo truly brings their suffering and hardships to life. If you've read 'The Godfather' you could be forgiven for thinking this will be a story of a family's fierce loyalty to each other, despite their shared poverty. Not so. Relationships are strained, affections grow and wither, bonds are strengthened and severed. Like animals, they have to keep fighting the cruel uncertainty of poverty. Puzo dispenses with all sentiment; in order to be sentimental, there has to be some good times along the way. And time is not kind to many of these characters. I've read a couple of entertaining but ultimately shallow Mario Puzo novels ('The Fourth K' and 'Fools Die'), but I won't soon forget the sadness of 'The Fortunate Pilgrim'.



3. Enjoyed THE FORTUNATE PILGRIM by Mario Puzo, written before
   THE GODFATHER . . . this one also looks at the Italian-American
   experience, but from the perspective of a family where the woman
   holds the power.
   
   I was moved by the story of Lucia Santa and her journey from the
   mountain farms of Italy to the streets of New York . . . she hoped
   for a better life, but instead found herself living in Hell's Kitchen
   and in a bad marriage where she had to raise six children
   on her own.
   
   Their lives also fascinated me, as did Puzzo's description of
   what like was life in the twenties, thirties and forties . . . it made
   me feel like I was actually there--right with the characters.
   
   After the novel was over, I wondered how come it never was
   made into a major movie . . . I did found out that THE FORTUNATE
   PILGRIM was instead made into a TV mini-series in 1988, starring
   Sophia Loren and Edward James Olmos . . . so I now know what
   I'll be watching when I rent my next DVD!



4. THIS A VERY GOOD BOOK. SHOWS HOW HARD WE ITALAIANS HAD IT IN THOSE DAY WHEN OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS HAD TO COME OVER HERE. VERY GOOD ENDING!



5. It is a very good book, and although that its not as good as The Godfather or The Last Don, it is a very intertaining book.

5 comments about Jackie: The Clothes of Camelot.

1. While this book features some interesting facts and pictures, I was very disappointed to find that the author almost completely disregards Jackie's use of accessories. I had hoped to learn about the handbags Jackie used, but despite brief references to her clutches, the only time he talked about them was to wrongly call the Gucci 'Jackie' bag - named after the woman herself - a Hermes tote. He also craftily avoids the subject of her shoes. Disappointing.



2. Having grown up in the 60's, and being a Fashion Major as well as a big fan of Jackie Kennedy I was excited to read this book, and pleasantly surprised with Mulvaney's perspective on Mrs. Kennedy's wardrobe. I own many books on Jackie Kennedy and was particularly impressed with the photos and information presented in this book on this fashion icon. I read this book from cover to cover in one day. The photos are stunning, and images of Mrs. Kennedy through her husband's White House years as well as post years are presented in black and white along with color. If you are a Jackie Kennedy admirer, or a Fashion History buff; this is a phenomenal book to add to your collection...well worth the hardback price anywhere!



3. I absolutely loved this book. Jackie just looks so beautiful. Her fashion sense is remarkable. And she looks so elegant and beautiful. She was simply the greatest.



4. I am not a die-hard Jackie O fan, but I love fashion in general. I have always thought of Jackie O as a fashion icon, and wanted to learn more about her. Until now, I have never seen a book that pictorally does her sense of style justice. However, in this book there are enough photographs both in black and white and in color to satisfy any fashion junkie or Jackie O fan. No matter what the situation, Jackie O was always appropriately and fashionably attired. This book does an excellent job of showing this by portraying her clothing choices through the years and in a variety of categories. This book does not go into great detail about Jackie O as a person or historical figure, I don't think it was written with those objectives in mind, but it should satisfy the fashion cravings of most people. I highly recommend it.



5. Who else, in all the other First Ladies, could have worn all those beautiful clothes with the chic and style Jackie had! Not many I guess. In this beautiful book, there are some never seen before pictures, that demonstrates what elegance in fashion is all about. It will take a long time before we can see that again in the White House. I treasure that book that makes me relive that unique period of refinement and class that once was in the White House, thanks to Jackie!