5 comments about Time and Chance: Gerald Ford's Appointment With History.

1. I consider this book a very well written because in simple words the author goes straight to the point:giving the audience a deep sense of what honesty and integrity are for this great man who did not want to be Vice President, much less President of the United States of America. I do not know much about politics, but since I read this book I have more respect for most of the elected officials. But, for late President Gerald
   Ford this book has given me a great respect and admiration. We should have many more elected officials like him.



2. Cannon provides a fascinating account of how Gerald Ford went from planning in 1972 to retire from politics at the end of Nixon's term to becoming president of the United States. He covers Ford's childhood and life in the Navy and as a US representative in about 100 pages and spends most of the rest of the book discussing in amazing detail how he became vice-president and then president. The final chapter is a brief summary of Ford's presidential administration but nothing of life after politics.
   
   The book is well-written and well-researched and remarkably free of bias, given that Cannon was a senior advisor in the Ford administration. Ford's decent and humble character is one of the themes of the book, as well as the idea that these traits are what led him to become president. His naivete is also evident.
   
   As other reviewers have mentioned, the glaring weakness of the book is its brief coverage of Ford's administration, except for the issue of pardoning Nixon, which is covered in great detail.
   
   I recommend the book as a tool for understanding Ford the man, for its careful analyis of the Watergate mess, and for describing how such a decent man could prosper in the cutthroat world of American politics. However, if you want to understand the policies of the Ford administration, you should look elsewhere.



3. We as a country were extremely lucky and benefited greatly from the presidency of Gerald Ford. When he took over the presidency, this country was torn apart. Rather than appealing to the worst in American politics by pitting Americans against each other,(as has been done recently)he methodically and expertly began to bring us together.
   
   The Republican Party that I belonged to during those times and under President Ford's leadership was largely free of radical fundamentalism and extreme right-wing positions. There were no Rush Limbaughs or Michael Savages. There were no nationally known ministers claiming natural disasters were the wrath of God visited on an apostate nation. The Ford presidency and the Republican Party of that time actually had concern for social issues and was quite progressive.
   
   President Ford led by steady, common sense and a humble heart. I remember being so saddened by his loss to Jimmy Carter, knowing that we, as a nation, would lose such an able leader. After Carter's election, the Republican party decided to appeal to the fears, rather than the hopes and aspirations of America. Since that time there has never been an election where the American people were not thoroughly divided. Our political dialogue is absurdly partisan, and 'attack and spin' meisters are the order of the day on any news station. More than anything, I fondly wish we could return to civility and decency both in religion and politics.
   
   Get this book and read about a very able, and thoroughly decent man who was there to serve his country when he was most needed. The details are fascinating.



4. Over the last several years, I've read more than 35 presidential biographies. I've used Amazon reviewers as very reliable guides to help me pick the best available biography. Time and Chance is highly recommended with one gigantic reservation. Reeves' book is tightly written in an almost breezy style. More than half of the book is a retelling of Watergate, and it is the most balanced and readable version of Watergate I've read.
   
   Ford's difficult early childhood is covered as is his development into the all-American boy. His romance with a top model and his marriage to Betty are sympathetically explained. His service in World War II is well told, and we are given almost enough information about his years in the House of Representatives; however, I would have preferred more about Ford's responses to the many social issues that dominated the sixties.
   
   Ford comes off as the ultimate straight-arrow, average kind of guy. Completely decent, unimaginative, pretty boring, and not altogether courageous in terms of dealing with people.
   
   OK the failing. Except for Ford's decision to pardon Nixon which is described thoroughly, the rest of his presidency is given something like 25 pages. This is simply not enough. While Watergate and Ford's role in Nixon's resignation will be more remembered than Ford's actual presidency, I would have liked at least a more detailed synopsis of his challenges while he was president (in this respect Nagel`s excellent biography of John Quincy Adams has precisely the same problem). Up until now I've avoided the presidential books that only covered the presidential years, but for Gerald Ford probably a combination of Time and Chance and an overview of his presidency would be the best way to go.



5. Very well written. Great background of the key players involved in Watergate. Wished that it had discussed more about Ford's term as president and less about Nixon and the so called "coverup". It shows Ford as a very honest, hard working public servant.

1 comments about Dallas and the Jack Ruby Trial: Memoir of Judge Joe B. Brown, Sr..

1. No serious reader who is interested in the circumstances of the assassination of John Kennedy and the subsequent murder of his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, should miss this book which provides valuable insight into the motives of Oswald's killer, Jack Ruby, through the eyes of the trial judge; the statements made by Jack Ruby to the Warren Commission and during the course of Ruby's FBI polygraph examination.
   Many readers will recall the hysteria which was created by these two murders which occurred in Dallas within 48 hours. Speculation immediately arose and persists today whether Oswald was the sole assassin and whether Jack Ruby killed Oswald to silence him, thereby protecting Oswald's alleged accomplices. There was also speculation that Oswald was the tool of a foreign government and/or whether Ruby was hired by those same interests to silence Oswald.
   A reading of the Ruby interrogation conducted by Chief Justice Warren and former President Gerald Ford provides the reader with valuable clues to Ruby's motivations. Ruby's testimony appears to be somewhat self-serving, but his insistence on a polygraph to prove his truthfulness is noteworthy and the results are very interesting.
   The editor drew on her vast research and experiences as a Dallas psychologist to provide the reader with the necessary background regarding the mood of Dallas and in the final analysis, that mood was the key element resulting in the appellate court reversal of the Ruby conviction.

No comments about William Tecumseh Sherman - Attila of the American Continent (Biography).

2 comments about The Blues in Gray: The Civil War Journal of William Daniel Dixon and the Republican Blues Daybook (Voices of the Civil War Series.).

1. This is a wonderful Civil War book told through the eyes of William Daniel Dixon of Savannah, Georgia. It is a fascinating and detailed account of his journey from the coastal battles of the early war to the battle of Atlanta. If you are from the southeastern part of Georgia you will find it especially interesting to read about the battles and encampments around the Savannah area. Dixon recounts his personal exploits as well as his unit's: the Republican Blues. Compared to the fast travel and communications of today it is great to read about a time of letters, trains, telegraphs, long foot marches, and horse back jouneys.



2. The Blues in Gray is a very readable account of the Republican Blues service in coastal Georgia with exciting battles taking place on the Ogeechee River at Fort McAllister south of Savannah, Georgia. William Daniel Dixon was 23 when he began his private journal which he kept throughout his Confederate Service. He was a native of Savannah and lived his entire life there. The editor, Roger Durham, has done an excellent job making Dixon's voice heard. I am Dixon's great granddaugher and am delighted that this primary material is available to readers and scholars.

4 comments about Warren Buffett:: Master of the Market.

1. Review: At first glance, one would think that this is primarily a book on how to invest using the principles of Warren Buffett. Very much the contrary, this book is actually a narration of the life of Warren, from his days as a child (where he worked part-time as a paper boy) up to describing all his major acquisitions. Sixteen chapters of the book are devoted to this; the remaining one chapter of the book summarises the nine principles of investing.
   
   It is interesting to read about how Warren grows up and his major investment successes. The final chapter would also serve as a very good checklist:
   
   1) Know the numbers and what they mean.
   2) Invest in products you understand.
   3) Read widely to value prospects.
   4) Always maintain a margin of safety.
   5) Become a fanatic about investments.
   6) Avoid buying "popular" stocks.
   7) The secret of compound interest.
   8) Know when to invest.
   9) Never run with the street pack.
   
   Certainly, when deciding what stock to purchase, each and every stock should be torn apart and analysed just as one would do when buying/starting any business. And what others feel that a particular stock is worth should not affect our own evaluation of the business prospects. It is the presence of such mismatch in pricing that allows investors like Warren to achieve their extraordinary returns.
   
   Recommendations: This book would be suitable for people who know a little of Warren Buffett and would like to know more about him without going into too much details. For die-hard fans that had already read his annual newsletters to his Berkshire shareholders, they probably wouldn't learn anything new here.



2. I am just getting into Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway stock. If you are looking for a quick easy read on the history of Warren Buffett and his company, this book would fill that need. This book covered the Buffett history and explained how the "Baby Berkshires" came about. I am sure there are other books that go into more detail, but this book will be a good book to start with.



3. I have read every book regarding Warren Buffett and in my opinion this one is by far the worst. I would urge readers to spend their money on other Buffett books. Any of the other ones would be better than this one.

   This one simply regurgitates everything already written about the man and it's not even done with originality.




4. This book does not reveal anything new about WEB

5 comments about Mae West: An Icon in Black and White.

1. First, two responses to several reviews...
   
   1 - The reviewers who suggest that this book is all about proving that West was black have simply not read the book. Watts introduces the book with that rumor (and the rumor that she was a man)...and then MOVES ON. She's off that subject by the middle of the second page.
   
   2 - This is an academic book, written by a history professor. It is not a fan-oriented biography about West. If you want a quick and easy read, this is NOT the book for you. Watts' writing style makes the book accessible to people who aren't scholars, but if you aren't comfortable with footnotes or references to literary and cultural theory, you may want to choose a different book.
   
   On to my own review:
   
   This is an impressive piece of scholarship. The amount of archival research done for this project is impressive. Watts does a fine job of showing how West's work and image were very much shaped by working-class, black, gay, and feminist ideals and cultural forms. What we want to see as wholly her self-creation (including her trademark line "Come up and see me sometime!") was absolutely informed by what she saw around her.
   
   My only criticism (and hence, the 4 stars) is that I think Watts' analysis of West's appropriation of black culture is too generous. Watts does a grand job of talking about white performers who didn't think much about their consumption and those who just plain 'stole.' However, Watts works really hard to show that West was not one of them; I'm not so sure.



2. The book itself is tediously written, as others have stated already, but the politically correct issue of "did she have negro blood" backfires. It's incredibly racist to assume that a white woman could not be sexual in an earthy way and love rhythm & blues unless she had negro blood. That falls under the category of "all blacks are good dancers" and "all whites are uptight" and other such nonsense. The argument of "What's so wrong if she's a little black?" can easily be countered with "What's so wrong if she's all white?" Mae West did not fit the stereotype of a white woman of her era, so people are trying to find some small trace of "something" which can justify cramming her into a comfortable stereotype. She was sensual and bawdy, well then, she must be black because God Forbid a genuine white woman behave that way. She made people uncomfortable back then and she's making people uncomfortable now. Mae West is an original and she's still stirring up controversy, which I'm sure she'd be delighted about. But if you want a good book about her, read Simon Louvish's book instead.



3. In her biography of Mae West, "An Icon in Black And White, Ms Watts makes a valiant attempt to connect West's appropriation of African American idioms to her possible black roots. While Ms Watts may be on shaky ground, there is no disputing the fact that Mae West borrowed liberally from Black culture in creating her unique persona.
   West's personal life mirrored her respect for African Americans and she evidently enjoyed the company of people from a broad range of cultural and sexual backgrounds as friends and associates. Unfortunately, Ms Watts examination of West often comes across as a university text book, which it appears to be.
   During the past ten years, I have been researching a ribald biography on the 'stimulatin' but nevah irritatin'' Miss West entitled SAINT MAE: OUR LADY OF HIPS & QUIPS, and I am presently seeking a publisher. While extensively interviewing the men involved in her life, a previously hidden side of Mae's personality is unmasked and she comes alive through their stories. Her tough vixen image was considerably softened in the company of the friends she held in high esteem. Surprisingly, Miss West was more comfortable socializing with colorful, offbeat characters than the Hollywood crowd.
   Ms Watts' examination of Mae West proves to be an entertaining read. One thought to ponder, although Mae West once appeared on the vaudeville stage as a man, she was sensitive enough never to appear in blackface and undo the behind the scene assistance she gave her fellow African American coharts.



4. When you tell the truth, people will be angry. Yes it is true that there is no real proof about Mae West, but I have had people insist that I had caucasian blood in my family tree. I look in the mirror from time to time and wonder why this was but I am now starting to see it to a degree. It is not that this or that person have this or that blood, but the truth is that we are made of one blood. That is the unique thing about the human race.
   
   I hope that this book becomes a #one saler to help people understand the genome project. I did not purchase this book to read about Mae West's genetic make-up, but to learn more about her fantastic mystical style!
   
   There is one thing that bothers me. Her movies tend to show racial inequalities. But this is the characteristic of 30's movies.



5. Amazon customers' reviews of this book are as fascinating as the book itself. I'm amazed at how many people appear unable to understand what they read. Contrary to several reviewers' indignant claims, Jill Watts does *not* argue that Mae West was part black. Her meticulously-researched book carefully separates speculation from fact, and she states early and clearly that there is simply not enough information to settle the question of West's racial background. She then asserts that it doesn't matter whether West did or did not have African-American ancestry. What *does* matter is how West handled issues of racial identity in her writing and in her personal and professional performances. Watts' analysis reveals a woman who was, for her time, a strong champion of African-Americans and who was also deeply ambivalent about racial roles and identities. This book is more than a biography; it is also study of the social constructions of race, class, and gender in general and of the persona of "Mae West" in particular.
   
   I suspect that the readers who are so outraged at the idea that West may have been part-black find issues of race personally disturbing. (As one reviewer asked, why does it matter so intensely to some people that Mae be all-white?) The dismissive readers probably also came to the book expecting a standard Hollywood-style star story rather than an academic analysis. Perhaps because the book took a different approach than they expected, they didn't read very carefully.
   
   In terms of the text itself, it has the strengths I've already noted: it's carefully researched, thoughtful, and does a great deal more than simply detail a star's life. However, in exploring her thesis, Watts is often repetitive and is sometimes guilty of trying far too hard to make her case. Also, because she wants to portray West as a positive force in subverting traditional definitions of gender and class, Watts often downplays or excuses West's sometimes demanding, hurtful, temperamental behavior. It would have been more intellectually honest to acknowledge West's flaws more fully.
   
   Overall, an informative, interesting book.

1 comments about Touched With Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Olivier Wendell Holmes (The North's Civil War, 12).

1. I have been a fan of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. for many years. As of the time of this posting (3/07), Amazon has the biography of his FATHER as the author. OWH, Senior was an important American doctor and man of letters. His SON, the author of these letters, was a civil war veteran, twice wounded, who went on to become possibly the greatest of all American lawyers and judges.

No comments about Helen Keller, Public Speaker: Sightless But Seen, Deaf But Heard (Great American Orators).

No comments about Millard Fillmore - The Accidental President (Biography).

No comments about Martin Luther King Jr. (People Who Made History).