U Books

Well, they didn't, but it's a classic anyway.

This is a terrific book for anyone who wants to learn how great projects are visualized, actualized, and pressed through extremely challenging environmental circumstances. It's a source of inspiration for the dreamers and the practical alike.

If you want to read about architecture and engineering, you get only a small dose here. It's more about the capitalization, visioning and building. But that story is magnetic and wonderful.

Only thing they left out: that it was to this (then half-empty) building that Annhaeuser-Busch delivered the "first" case of legal beer to Al Smith at the end of Prohibition. Smith, the "wet" and the eternal optimist, exemplifies what this building was conceived to be: a vibrant and living testimony to the human spirit.

So, it stands to reason that it survives now as New York's essential symbol.

From the outset, the Empire State Building seemed to have had everything going against it. Although conceived during the 1920s boom years, most of the construction went on during the earliest years of the Depression, thereby putting the idea of high occupancy in the severest doubt. Its location wasn't ideal either. It was three miles north of the Wall Street district and a mile south of the center of the midtown business center. And it was ten blocks south of Grand Central Station and three avenues east of old Pennsylvania Station. The idea of mooring dirigibles was quickly scrapped after failed attempts. And sure enough, although the Empire State Building did get built, the tenants did not come. King Kong did, but he didn't pay rent.

John Tauranac describes all this and more in his exhaustive book, THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING: THE MAKING OF A LANDMARK. Written in an engaging style, Tauranac's book is as elegant and interesting as the subject itself, while his wit is as colorful as the characters surrounding the Empire State Building's creation. The book covers the idea for the building, Raskob's and Smith's supervision, the monumental task of the construction workers, and, most importantly, the survival of the building to become THE emblem of America's cultural and economic reach while become THE identifying symbol of New York City. The generous amount of photographs add to the understanding and enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent work that details the history of the Empire State Building. I was a bit surprised to find how much the author managed to pack into my paperback. Everything from skyscraper height restrictions to land leases and modern restructuring of ownership for tax purposes (and all the "interesting" stuff in between). If you buy this book and you're not from New York, do yourself a favor and get a map of the area. So you can follow along in the early chapters.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in not only the Empire State Building, but in New York City history of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Who would think that a building completed in 1931 at 1250 feet high would still be the tallest building in NYC in 2007 (of course, we can't forget the tragic loss of the taller WTC Towers). This book covers the quick construction of the ESB, but also covers the politics and history behind the building's location (the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel used to be at the corner of 5th Ave and 34th Street) and the people involved. This is an interesting book about an exciting time where anything seemed possible in one of the world's greatest cities.

I bought this book shortly after a trip to NYC in 2000, and found it to be an excellent history of one of the Big Apple's architectural jewels, the Empire State Building. It is full of intrigue, history, great anecdotes and one-of-a-kind photographs. If you're a visitor to Manhattan or a local resident, you owe it to yourself to read this book.

I am very pleased with this book. I use it quite often to read about N.C. things and places that I've always been curious about, but wasn't quite sure where to look. This book solves that problem, and having watched several interviews with Professor Powell on public television, I can obviously tell that this work is his magnum opus. It was lovingly compiled with supurb scholarly detail. For a one volume "encyclopedia," it is great. Of course its not going to be comprehensive enough for critics (despite 1237 pages), but that someone took the time to compile something like this is an achievement in and of itself. If you want to learn more about N.C. history, this is the book for you. I might add that I know the other compiler/editor, Mr. Jay Mazzocchi, and he too is a first rate mind like Prof. Powell. I recieved this book as a Christmas gift last year from he and his daughter whom I taught in an A.P. U.S. History class. I feel not only honored to have a signed copy of an outstanding N.C. history text, but have truly used it and learned new and exciting things about my home state that I did not know before.

A great book by a great historian. Not only is this an essential reference guide to all things in North Carolina, but it represents a culmination Professor Powell's career, one of North Carolina's greatest treasures. I purchased it not only because I wanted it but also as a means of honoring Professor Powell. In regard to the comment about the lack of biographies in this book, I assume that comment was made in jest. But for those not familiar with Professor Powell's previous works, he previously published (in the late 1970's and 1980's) a six volume "Dictionary of North Carolina Biographies."

Dr. William Powell, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina, has published this huge book which contains everything you may ever wish to know about the history of North Carolina. It is well written and easy to use.

This book has lots of wonderful information about the Tar Heel State. I recommend the book to newcomers to our state as well as to NC natives. This would be a great resource for students in the fourth grade to use.

Encyclopedic guides to states, cities and regions are coming hot off the presses now. I was anxiously awaiting this one, but I've come away slightly disappointed. Most obvious to me at first are the serious omissions in the book: There are absolutely ZERO biographical articles in here. What happened there? There's an article for every imaginable institution of higher learning, including many long extinct, but not an entry for James K. Polk, William Tryon, James Iredell, William Styron, James Duke, Elizabeth Dole, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan, Jesse Jackson, James Taylor, Tori Amos or Jessie Helms. Not all North Carolina natives, mind you, but all with profound impacts on the state's history. Some general entries (such as "Mealtimes") aren't immediately applicable to North Carolina at all, but are linked by a contrived peculiarity, as could be done for many other states in the country. Otherwise, this book is a nice compilation of popular topics related to North Carolina.

This book is certainly impressive in scope and not a failure by any means, but incomplete enough to justify a much improved second edition. I know that Dr. Powell is a highly respected and beloved historian in North Carolina, and I'm not trying to diminish his accomplishment. I just think he should add a good biographer to his staff.

Dare I suggest that the Encyclopedia of "Another" Carolina is a better book? Not the content, per se, but the format and editing of that book set the standard for these large volumes. Have a look.

This was the first Wing Commander book I read and I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. It tells the story of mission conducted by a new light carrier, Tarawa, and its pilots and marines as they conduct a suicidal mission on the enemy homeworld. The main body of the story, dealing with the light carrier Tarawa, was exciting, fast-paced and a great ride. A brief prologue wasn't necessary but still set the story up well, and I enjoyed reading it.

Even though some aspects of the story, whether dialogue or relationships, seemed a little cliche, they were written with enough heart and emotion to feel genuine. Main character Jason "Bear" Bondarevsky had enough depth and introspection to avoid becoming a fighter jock sterotype. He often questions the barbarism he sees in war, especially compared to the Marines that bunk aboard Tarawa who do things like collect Kilrathi ears as trophies. The book does a good job of showing that the Marines see the dirtier and more personal impact of war compared to the pilots, without being too heavy handed in its stance on war in general.

This book is great pulp science fiction with some heavy issues discussed in an way appropriate the tone of the story. You'll be cheering on the Tarawa as it tries to survive its mission.

I have read all the Wing Commander novels even the horrible ones written for the movie, which in and of itself was a horror, and I believe this is the best book of the series. Yet, I wonder of all the books why this won hasn't been reprinted? None of the other books in the series are as complening and captivating as this book.Without giving to much away, the plot seems to be a combination of the World War Two Dolittle Raid, and the Battle of Midway and like the US Naval the Confed fleet is outnumbered, out gunned, and the Kilrathi like the Japanese are winning the war, but out numbered and stretched to the limit the humans in the ConFederation have to take an all or nothing through of the dice on a plan that has almost no chance of success. Read the Book and Find out if the Confederation hits the heart of the Kilrathi, their homeworld, or we lose? Find the book, the answers will surprise you, the cost will be high, and don't stop reading to the end.

I know this probably won't help those who are looking for this book, but all I can say is that it's worth it in the end. It's one of the best Wing Commander novels that I have ever read, and I really hope that you find the book. So don't give up. You'll find it. I did...

I finally found this book on my own at a local used book store and, needless to say, I was excited. This book was great. Well, the first part, "Milk Run", was a little stale, but the bulk of the story, "End Run", was masterful. There was a lot of great action and interesting characters. I liked how Kevin Tolwyn transformed from a spoiled rich brat into a mature soldier of the Confederation. Though not as good as Fleet Action, End Run was a superb novel set in the Wing Commander Universe and I, for one, am glad I found it.

Stasheff sets them up, while Forstchen knock's em down. This book is a one-two punch for any fan of the PC video game, but also simply as a tale of science-fiction. It is broken up into two parts, a short story which acts as a 'prologue' (Milk Run, written by Stasheff) that will just rip your heart out with deep characterization and plot; the title 'novel' portion, written by Forstchen, follows up the result of the short story with continuation of the character Jason 'Bear' Bonderevsky aboard a slapped-together escort carrier _Tarawa_. Where Stasheff rips your heart out, Forstchen stomps on it with character interaction and the tragedy that is war. The last scene in this book always brings me to tears. I highly recommend this novel, and urge you to hit up one of the auctioneers or go to a used book store. This book is sadly out of print!

"Finding Your Father's War" is a fantastic reference guide! For relatives of U.S. Army veterans, it is a straight forward guide to the resouces you'll need.

This is an amazing resource on the composition and structure of the US Army during WWII. There is detailed information on how the Army was organized at the time, including an appendix on the Army Air Force. There is no information on the Navy or Marine Corps: the focus is fixed on the Army. The book is packed with photos and illustrations of insignia, badges and medals worn or awarded during the war. What this book is not is a reference on the armament, equipment or gear of the period; nor does it discuss battles or unit losses.

Contents

Introduction

The War in a Nutshell

Section 1: Introduction to Army Units
Background information on the composition of the World War II US Army

Section 2: Individual Records
The various Army records pertaining to an individual soldier

Section 3: Organizational Records
The Army's record of what a man did during the war

Section 4: Finding Records
Places around the country where you can find records of your soldier's service

Section 5: Introduction to Army Units
Identifying what you may already have and what it can tell you about your relative's service

Appendices

Appendix A: The Infantry and Airborne Divisions in World War II

Appendix B: The Armored and Cavalry Divisions in World War II

Appendix C: Army Groups, Armies, and Corps in World War II

Appendix D: Major Army Commands of World War II

Appendix E: The Army Air Forces in World War II

Appendix F: Vehicle Markings in World War II

Appendix G: The Campaigns of World War II

Appendix H: Official Abbreviations Used in World War II

Appendix I: The Green Books and Select Bibliography

This is an outstanding book! It brings together information on so many aspects of a search for WWII information it has become invaluable to me. I found the most helpful aspects included the many full color pictures, the charts of organization, and the explanations of the many documents I found in my father's papers. Some of the sample documents and forms were small reproductions and did require a magnifying glass to see clearly but the information was so helpful, I didn't mind. The book also gives clear information on where various documents are located and how best to access those sources. Having this book months ago would have saved me hours of time.

My only disappointment is that there is no index. When I go back to the book to refresh myself on a topic, it is not always easy to find what I am looking for through the Table of Contents. I would hope any future editions would include a good index. That one complaint aside, I think this is an excellent book and I would recommend it highly for anyone searching for records.

Everyone who wants to know what their relatives did in WWII, this is the book. It has amazing clarity, pictures, scanned documents with explantions, unit histories, etc. Wish I had this book a few years ago. What took me months to figure out, this book had it all.

Jonathan Gawne's latest book "Finding Your Father's War" follows in the tradition of outstanding military reference books authored by this hard working researcher and historian including his Normandy Campaign benchmark reference guide "Spearheading D-Day", and easily will be become his most successful general interest work. The text and illustrations are clear, easily followed, and apply directly to assist anyone who is interested in researching a family member, friend or veteran's Service to his or her country during World War Two. Each section walks the reader through different research and documentation sources so as to allow one to become fluent in the often confusing and jargon heavy military records and in the end be able to reconstruct an overview of Service from available sources. The quality of the publication is excellent with the color pictures and illustrations numerous and sharp, while the text typeset is easy on the eyes. Casemate has done an excellent job in putting this book together, and has done justice to the quality of the author's work. Plus at a very reasonable price unlike many military books which are often priced out of the range of the average reader, this should be an outstanding success for both the author and publisher. Bravo to both for doing such a great job!

This book was wonderfully written. It went into great details and sometimes the reader had to be reminded that he or she was not there, that day in 1946. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a passion for civil rights literature.

The term, "Fire in a Canebrake", is a phrase that Walton County, Georgia residents used to describe the sounds of the fatal gunshots that commenced the last mass lynching in America; it is also the title of Laura Wexler's historical account of the Moore's Ford lynching where four blacks were murdered in late July 1946. The novel painstakingly details the "who, what, when, where and why" of the horrific crime and is supported by interviews, FBI reports, and other detailed documentation.

Wexler takes us back to the beginning when a black man, Roger Malcolm, stabs a white man, Barnett Hester, for allegedly having an affair with his common law wife, Dorothy. As Barnett lingers near death, Roger sits in jail counting his days left on earth. Eleven days later when Barnett recovers, Roger is then set free when his bail is posted by Loy Harrison, a wealthy landowner and landlord to George Dorsey (Dorothy's older brother) and his common law wife, Mae Murray. It is returning home from the jail that Roger, Dorothy, George, and Mae are dragged from Loy's car by an angry mob of white men and are murdered in cold blood. Loy claims he did not and could not recognize any of the attackers which was why his life was spared on that fateful day....and so the lying begins and never seems to end.

For years, the NAACP, FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and local law enforcement conduct their investigations, interrogations, and examinations only to arrive at no convictions. It is only in 1991, when an "eyewitness" steps forward to tell his story that there appears to be a slither of hope for justice. However, hope fades as holes and contradictions run rampant in his testimony as well; and unfortunately by the early 1990's all of the suspected perpetrators and potential corroborating witnesses are deceased. It appears that the leads had literally died out and one wonders if justice will ever be served.

The author does an excellent job of "peeling back the layers" to set the stage for the story and expertly blends in the national and state political agendas that influenced the course of events surrounding the lynching. By doing so, the reader understands the history of the rural Georgian townships where the story plays out, the role of the key witnesses including their family and criminal backgrounds, public displays of bigotry and drunkenness. She also shares the political tactics of the day used to deny blacks of their Civil Rights and protection under Federal law, numerous contradictions in the witness's statements/alibis/affidavits, and lack of follow-up and missed opportunities by law officials. The handling of the case by the investigators from beginning to end is totally unbelievable by today's standards, but what is moreso shocking is the blatant racism, hatred, and wantonness of the townsfolk toward an atrocity such as this.

This reader ran a myriad of emotions while reading the novel -- first, frustration in that no perpetrators were ever brought to justice and nor was anyone ever held accountable for these heinous crimes -- a fact that is unfortunately recurrent in so many lynching cases. Secondly, anger and sadness when reading about the intimidation and threats against local blacks as well as the breakdown and separation of the victim's families in the aftermath of the lynching. The murders only exacerbated their wretched existence as poor, undereducated sharecroppers. The author's skill in conveying their daily living conditions and lifestyle using census statistics and first hand accounts was outstanding and heartbreaking.

This book is a page-turner! Although Oprah, Dateline, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution have covered this story, Wexler adds a twist: her words breathe life into the pages and add color to the black and white photos in the book; she presents the evidence in such a way to allow readers to draw their own conclusions. Hats off to Ms. Wexler for her perseverance and dedication to finding truth. Well done!

Phyllis
APOOO BookClub, The Nubian Circle Book Club

This is a book about a horrendous assassination of four black residents of a neighboring county of Atlanta in 1946, but it is also a book on Southern culture, as it had existed since the time of the Civil War. The author depicts a close-knit, rural society dominated by white landowners who basically controlled their communities' affairs including the dispensing of justice as they saw fit. Keeping the blacks of the area under a watchful eye and in a subordinate economic position was a huge part of that control. Any deviation from their prescribed roles and permitted behaviors, generally resulted in some form of physical violence being perpetrated upon blacks. Of course, law enforcement personnel, if not assisting in this extra-legal violence, looked the other way.

The assassination of these four individuals screamed across the nation's headlines in the summer of 1946 to the surprise of the local residents. This dispensing of justice, while more egregious than was usually the case, was from the same timeworn mold. The local thought was, Why the clamor? The FBI, the NAACP, and any number of reporters descended on Walton County, Georgia that summer. But all of those parties met with silence, fear, dissembling, conflicting stories, and a decided lack of evidence. Five months of investigation, including the convening of a federal grand jury, yielded only some potential suspects, but the evidence was slight and inconclusive.

The author seemed to have a vague notion that she would be able to sift through the evidence and solve the case, aided by further digging. That thought was fueled by the fact that an alleged first-hand witness to the murders had come forward with his story in the early 1990s. It becomes evident in the course of the book that the new revelation was largely a fabrication, though the motivation remains unclear.

The author's project began in 1997, fifty-one years after the crime. Virtually all of the suspects and witnesses had died by that time. Most of the recapitulation of the days leading to the killings was derived from the extensive interviews conducted by the FBI in 1946. Other sources were newspaper accounts and files from the NAACP. In the beginning, the author attempts to piece together the steps and actions of the principals in the days leading to the murders. Most of the book is devoted to bouncing around the conflicting evidence as it was gathered. Some conclusions can be drawn, but mostly the truth remains obscure.

Of course, anyone reading this book would realize that the crime has not been solved, so that is not a good reason to read the book. And it is a slight criticism of the book that after that much effort, the author does not in the end offer much in the way of speculation as to the perpetrators. The importance of this book is that it lays bare the notion that Southern society treated blacks, though perhaps differently, benignly. Life for blacks in the olden South was nothing short of brutal. One wonders just what it is from the past that Southerners want to defend in the various flag controversies now raging throughout Southern states. This book makes quite clear that atonement for the past should be on the minds of rural Southerners, not preservation.

This book is an accurate and detailed historical account of The Morre's Ford Bridge Lynching that took place in Walton County, GA in 1946. For those of you doing the math that's only 57 years ago. Though certainly not the last recorded lynching, it was significant in that it eventually affected the political landscape of the country. The book combines the best of history, politics, race relations, slavery, and good old fashion detective work.

Laura Wexler is an author and researcher extraordinaire. Her talents are unmatched by anything I have read in recent times and certainly on par with American Literary Giants. Ms. Wexler's (a white woman) only shortcoming is that she fails to capture the anger a person of color could have brought to such events. Without saying anything more, yesterday afternoon I gave the book to my wife, by 11:00pm she had read 168 pages.

As you read be mindful of the following. Focus on the dates of those events, how relatively few years have passed between 1946 and 2003. For that matter think about the climate of America back in 1966. Only twenty years removed from the Morre's Ford Bridge lynching and unilaterally all whites would agree times were still overtly oppressive for blacks. With that, think about Affirmative Action and how 1966 represents one generation of blacks, still not fully removed from out right racist attitudes. I also want my friends to consider the prevailing attitude of whites in 1946 and how to this day, or at least 1997-1999 how those attitudes stood the test of time. Consider not just the rural, simplistic, racist cotton farmers, but the complex, covert, economic, and political powers of those white racists in place at the time. What do you think the power elite taught their children? If they taught their children their core values and belief system (which all good parents do), do you think those children (today's white leaders) would act upon their beliefs overtly or covertly? What struggles do you think Blacks might still face today?

As we STRUGGLE to understand and move past our differences, it is imperative that we recognize the RECENT history of overt racial oppression and the healing power of Affirmative Action. Growing up, Black men used the phrase "my brother" as a greeting. In that greeting we recognized not our biological sibling, nor our color, but more deeply our common struggle. To remove it from the vernacular and express it for what we were really trying to say, "my partner in struggle."

Your Brother,
habworks

I live 20 minutes away from where this tragic event occurred. I have lived in this area for over 30 years and just recently became aware that the lynching occurred. I decided to read the book when a friend of mine told me it was out - we had discussed the history of the event a few months earlier as he was raised in Walton County and knew of some of the people mentioned in the book. I have to say that the entire book was very disturbing to me. I cannot in any way imagine an entire community keeping quiet about what happened. I cannot imagine the hate that caused this tragedy. I cannot understand the fear instilled in the black population so that they did not even come forward with information. I am in a interracial marriage and it is amazing to me that a few decades ago this would've caused an uproar that may have lead to murder.
The book is a good one. It will keep you interested throughout. Of course I knew before starting how it would end up - no conclusions on who did it - I learned a great deal about what actually occurred and have drawn my own ideas about what happened and who may have been involved. Knowing the area added to the "enjoyment" for lack of a better word, of reading, but it is definitely not necessary.
I am glad I was disturbed while I read this book. I hope everyone who reads it is as well. Too bad we'll never know what really happened.

Simple, this was stellar. Perfect condition, AMAZING read!! Gets to the "nitty-gritty" of the Corps.

This is an excellent book written by Gen Krulak. It gives an inside/personal look at Marine Corps history that many historians don't have access to. The main focus throughout the book is how the Marine Corps has dodged the "chopping block" many times prior and the authors point of view of why the USMC is so important to national security.

I love this book. When it first came out, I passed it by in the book stores, thinking it was just another compilation of sea stories, but man as I ever wrong.

I had the pleasure of serving under Capt. Charles Krulak, who eventually became Commandant, for a brief period of time and I used to work with a man who was "Brute" Krulak's personal chef, so the name was not entirely new to me.

After having served four years in the Corps, including an abbreviated tour in Vietnam, I knew how the Corps was, but I had no idea how it really came to be the institution that it is, except of course, for the tales of glory I heard in Boot Camp.

Anyone who has ever served in the Corps should read this book. Anyone who is thinking of joining the Corps should read this book. In fact, anyone who has any connection at all with anyone who has any connection at all with anyone who is in any way connected to the Marine Corps should read this book.

Excellent book that narrates about what is rarely narrated about: How the Marine Corps had to fight government bureaucracy to survive. A very different perspective on the USMC's history. A true underdog/dark horse -type story. Very little about the wars fought, but about the intra-government conspiracies and maneuverings to neuter, eradicate, and destroy the USMC. It shows how the USMC had to do more with less and still excel. This one has a happy ending and a fortunate one for us all in the USA.

In August of 1965, I was a slick-sleeved Marine Corps private stopping off in Okinawa on my way to Vietnam. During my short stay in Okinawa, my unit had the privilege to stand in formation for the then 3rd Marine Amphibious Force commander, LtGen "Brute" Krulak. Before his hasty troop inspection commenced, our company first sergeant warned all of us not to look down on the general as he passed in front of each of us. Brute was a giant of a man in legend and lore, but only about five foot six in stature. As a private who wished to gain a stripe or two sometime in the future, I kept my eyes straight ahead as the general not only stopped in front of me, but took my M-14 during my "inspection arms" movement. I remember holding my breath, deathly afraid that somehow I had ruined any chance for earning even one stripe in my Marine Corps career. Fortunately, he handed back the M-14 and moved on. I dutifully stared straight ahead and never saw anything but the top of his utility cover, with three stars tacked to it. To this day, I have no idea what he looks like.

Corps legend also has it that the Marine Corps fire base in Chu Lai was named after General Krulak. Sometime during his career, he had studied Chinese and because his name was so hard for his instructor to pronounce, "Krulak" became "Chu Lai" as his personal class name and that name was applied to our first fire base in Vietnam. Don't know if that's true or not, but that's what I heard long long ago.

In any event, General Krulak does an amazingly fine job of presenting Marine Corps issues from its inception up through the Vietnam War. His "insider" take on many crises faced by Marines, particularly its hardest battle to survive,not on Iwo Jima, but rather in the halls of Congress, makes this a very unique book for Marines and non-Marines alike.

My only complaints about the book are minor, but bear noting. First, on page 211 of the paperback issue, a picture is displayed showing a Marine under fire, moving out with a 3.5 inch rocket launcher round. The caption mistakenly ascribes the picture to the battle of Khe Sanh. Not so. This photo was taken in Operation Prairie in the summer of 1966. I know because I was in the battle, although not in that particular picture. Secondly,and this error I ascribe to the publishers, I'm disappointed that a book of this excellent caliber does not display the Marine Corps eagle globe and anchor anywhere on its cover. Come on, guys, get with the program!

Semper Fi.

Nat Hentoff is one of the few writers who has not been selective in his defense of the First Amendment--the only absolute, no-exceptions law in the United States. As a result, he has been castigated by both the Left and the Right, depending on whose right to free speech is endangered.



He performs an invaluable public service when he exposes the inherent hypocrisy of groups claiming that their First Amendement rights are being disrespected. Evangelical Christians wring their hands ad nauseam and wail about how the ACLU would make it illegal for someone to sit under a tree riding the Bible. Even worse than the sheer idiocy of this prediction is the fact that the same evangelical Christian would happily take away my right to sit under the adjacent tree reading HUSTLER. Although it revolts me, I know that someone else can ride the city bus reading MEIN KAMPF and be 100% within their rights.



I encourage anyone who wants to keep the future of free expression alive--either as a consumer or as a creator, or both--to read FREE SPEECH FOR ME, BUT NOT FOR THEE. Hentoff spoke of his own brushes with it when, during his days as a VILLAGE VOICE commentator, he was censored

I first read this in college in the mid-1990's when a professor assigned it. It made me think and question about what it means when we say we protect freedom of speech. To truly protect that right, that means you have to allow speech even when you don't like or disagree with what is being said. Fast forward to the last 4 years. Americans of all people are responding to speech they don't like with death threats -- makes me wonder why we are so scared of others having a difference of opinion.

This is one of the most important books of our time. Hentoff is a passionate believer in free speech who recognizes that if speech is truly to be free, he must protect the expression even of ideas he abhors. He catalogs with equal regret the efforts of both the right and the left to censor speech they don't like. While being sympathetic to those who object to allowing bigots, racists, pornographers, atheists, and others of many stripes the right to lay out ideas that one group or another finds repugnant, he makes both an intellectual and an emotional case for allowing everyone to have their say, no matter how much this may offend some. He points out that suppressing speech doesn't get rid of the underlying thought, but merely drives it underground and gives it the benefit of martyrdom. His corrective to bad speech is good speech: those who believe in their ideas should not try to censor other views, but should openly confront and refute them with opposing ideas.

His prescription can be hard to accept at times, but the case he makes is persuasive that in the end, liberty of speech is the best guarantee of a free society and of the ability for that society to work through the all viewpoints to reach agreement on which opinions are social desirable and which are not.

Democracy and freedom are hard masters, but they are worth it.

Hentoff deals with the subject of free speech in the most objective manner I've seen. As a writer for the Village Voice, he could not be accused of being a right-winger, so criticism of the hypocrisy of the left is very credible. I've always thought it ironic that the left portrays itself as having a lock on being open-minded, yet it is all too happy to restrict speech that presents a contrary point of view.

Hentoff gives many examples, including some of his own, where both sides of the political spectrum attempt to censor the speech of the other. He discusses everything from efforts on college campuses to prevent non politically correct subjects from being discussed to censorship he faced while writing his columns.

Great book for people to read on both sides of the political spectrum. Perhaps it could move more people on both sides to actually listen to opposing points of view rather than trying to prevent the discussion. We have to understand that the 1st Amendment was not designed to protect speech we agree with--their would be no need for such protection. Being offended is really not a constitutional reason to preclude speech (in my view as well as Hentoff's).

Hentoff, one of the foremost free speech advocates, presents stories, many involving his own experiences, of individual examples of censorship initiatives from both the 'left' and 'right'. He doesn't really present a comprehensive philosophical case, but rather provides concrete examples of the necessity for rigorous protection of free speech.

Thank you Mr. Lewis for taking the time to write this book. I cannot stop talking to friends, colleagues, and strangers about how it has brought to my attention just how recent our "freedom of speech" really is. Although our founding fathers might have written the text over 200 years ago, men and women were still being jailed under the libel laws and Sedition Acts. Current and future reporters please read this book and use it as a reminder of the importance of your role in our democracy, by keeping our leaders honest with your thorough research and candid accounts. Every American should read this book!

Unless a person goes to law school, it is unlikely that he or she will learn the 200 year old history of the First Amendment...yet is is a fascinating and necessary history to learn. The thesis of the book is that our common notion of what "freedom of speech and press" means in America is not self evident law. In fact, the author explains, our right to criticise the government and its leaders was developed and protected by "activist judges."

Think about the role of activist judges - many of whom are criticised today in certain political circles. Anthony Lewis reminds us that American activist judges used the language that all persons are born free and equal to issue rulings that slavery was against the law as early as 1783. 150 years later it was again activist judges and lawyers who struck down the Espionage Act of World War I which punished speech against the war. So it was only in the twentieth century that the First Amendment was used to protect free speech and condemn a statute that infringed this liberty.

Author Anthony Lewis takes us on a historical journey through First Amendment cases from its beginnings in the constitutional convention to its interpretation by the Jeffersonians and the Federalists to Woodrow Wilson's oppressive statutes, and finally to the more recent cases of flag desecration and the Patriot Act. Mr. Lewis is clear headed and forceful in his history and arguments. As I see it, this volume is one of the top 10 books on the law that I have ever read. I suggest it as a gift to your sons and daughters, to your high school or college students who care about what America means. Highly recommended.

This book is a clearly written, easy to read and very informative history of freedom of speech in America. It reveals how freedom of speech has matured to what it is today from shockingly shaky beginnings. It's quite timely, given the current need for open debate about the course of the nation when some political leaders and many others think criticism of the President is unpatriotic. It would be great if everyone would read it, including teenagers.

As CS Lewis made "righteousness readable", Anthony Lewis makes legal history readable. It may well be that law originates in the mind of God, but the law we live by is made on earth by courts explaining what legislatures mean. Tony Lewis finds a golden thread running through American history: The First Amendment.As he tells us about the cases in which its meaning has been evolving,and about the lives of the legal giants who have expounded it, we get a firmer grip on what makes America distinct. For those who genuinely enjoy history, this is a page turner.

Anthony Lewis's new book, "Freedom for the Thought That We Hate" is a terrific compendium regarding the First Amendment...America's unique codification of freedom of speech. Citing a number of Supreme Court cases, Lewis weaves a narrative with respect to two hundred years of debate about this important amendment to the Constitution, how it evolved and its relevance today. Along the way, we are reminded how, at many times during our nation's history, certain aspects of free speech were abridged, only to be saved by the courts, the Congress and public opinion. Anthony Lewis has presented all of this in a succinct and engrossing way.

Although this is a work about our own nation, Lewis does some short comparisons to the British system of "openness" and finds theirs (unsurprisingly) not as free as ours, especially when it comes to cases of libel. A surprise to many reading "Freedom" is how only comparatively recently the First Amendment has been put to the test. Lewis delves into areas of interest including privacy, libel, the press and pornography. But perhaps his greatest chapter is one on fear...how governments have sought to use fear to suppress public demonstration and thought, while insulating themselves from reality. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant", Justice Louis Brandeis stated years ago, and the author is quick to cite the Bush administration for not adhering to this idea. Indeed, I wish Lewis had taken on Bush even more in this book, but perhaps he has another offering in the works.

"Freedom for the Thought That We Hate" is simply terrific. The author's look into certain Supreme Court Justices... Brandeis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Felix Frankfurter, (to name just three) is superb. To top it all off, Anthony Lewis is deeply reflective and writes in a well-paced manner. I highly recommend "Freedom" for anyone who is serious about how the First Amendment continues to be a guiding light for the United States.

I'm a 3rd year graduate student in neuroscience, currently studying synaptic transmission with an electrophysiological approach. With biotechnology as an undergrad, let's just say my neurophysiology background was far from being strong. My PI recommended me this book a couple of weeks ago and I'm just loving it. The part on synaptic transmission (chapters 9 to 11) is simply great. I find things that I've read about MANY times before, on books like Kandel's, Fundamental Neuroscience, and many of the classic big textbooks, but none of them deals with this part as this one does. It's kind of the same issues but with a slightly different perspective, a perspective that I think you're able to appreciate more as you gain some experience in the field. Little details, certain experiments that you might have overlooked as a first year student, suddenly make all the sense. I don't think this is an overly simple book. It is really well written, and that's what I think makes it kind of reader-friendly but again, somehow it gets to deal with classical issues and concepts in a much deeper and USEFUL way (particularly for people actually working on this) than the great majority of other textbooks in this area. As I said in the title of my review, I wish I had learned about this book before, and that's the reason I'm writing this. Hope it helps :)

I realize that Amazon uses different shippers and stuff but I would not recommend buying this book from Amazon b/c, first of all, it took 6 days for it to ship to me when I have 2 day shipping and because I paid for a new one(direct from Amazon) and the copy I was shipped already had scratches and water damage on the inside pages although it was wrapped in clear plastic and supposedly new. This is not the first time where things like this have happened but I think this will be the last time. I am canceling my 2 day shipping and have decided to use other sources for my textbook and other book needs after my vouchers are used up.

I am a physics graduate student who happen to become interested in neuroscience. I had been searching for an introductory book when I stumbled upon this one. Although I am only half-way through the book right now, I could already tell that it is exactly what a newcomer to this field would need. With the terminology clearly defined, the book gives a very concise, clear, and logic description on the fundamentals. It further keeps one's interest high by relating the fundamental knowledges to everyday experiences. What I like most about this book is that it does not shy away from pointing out what is not yet known. With the last chapter devoted to "open questions", it presents the real questions to be answered. This book is really perfect. Highly recommended.

Neuroscience is generally considered a very dry area of research where people do research for years together to discover some meager facts. Still, even to a person who is averse to Neuroscience, this book might seem appealing. This speaks about the lucid, simple way of explanation in this book. This book is well written and explains the basics of Neuroscience better than any other giant books in market. Buy this book irrespective of your discipline to know the intricacies of Human Brain and have a pleasant reading.

I am a first year graduate student "accidentally" entering the field of neuroscience. I needed a basic text to help me "catch up". This book has been wonderful! The authors' have a great writing style- easy to read. More importantly, the authors are expert at choosing and presenting important, basic aspects of neurobiology to inexperienced neuroscientists without bogging the reader down with unnecessary and confusing detail. In particular, the authors thoroughly discuss ion channels and their role in neuronal communication, presenting electrophysiology as a valuable tool for studying these channels. This text was "just right" for me. However, if you are an advanced "neuroscientist", this text might be a bit on the "simple" side.

The essays included in this wonderful book, are stories of the values, instilled in the writers from family members. ... I am sure some of the stories will make you think of your own family life growing up.

This book shares the struggles and triumphs of families from all works of life. It touched my soul and helped me to appreciate the lessons I learned and the love I received from my parents, my brother, my extended family, and my friends. Once I started this book, I could not put it down.

Phyllis Harris has done a remarkable job of capturing the love and commitment among family members in this book. While reading From the Soul, at times my eyes welled up with tears of both joy and sadness as I relived each individual's childhood with them. This is one of the best books I have read. I strongly recommend it

I JUST FINISHED THIS NOVEL. IT WAS EXHILARATING. The collection of short stories were all written interestingly and filled with deep compassion. I enjoyed this book and commend the author with a JOB WELL DONE. I am honored to know that some one speaks out on proud Black families that have accomplished goals in life basically because of parents that care, love and support. I just wish my family could have been included. For three generations, each of my maternal family members received their BA or BS degrees with most acquiring masters, PhD's, MD's, DDs's and JD's. I recommend this book to all present day parents who have children because a lot of parenting tips are offered.

This page turning tribute focuses on ten Black parents who were incredible role models for their children. At this time all are successful adults in various career fields. The author, Phyllis Y. Harris, a children's advocate in the New York City area interviewed mothers, fathers and children in order to show that self confidence, self respect and strong moral values should be instilled on the home front. The Black families came from a variety of economic classes and backgrounds, along with an array of settings. Some of the stories are set in urban cities, some in the rural south, as well as the Caribbean and overseas. After a year and a half of interviews, the novel shows that parental love, wisdom, emotional support and guidance are the prime guidelines for Black children to become successful adults in our society. The stories are tales of happy, sad, hard and good times. Every parent in America needs to read, then devour, comprehend and digest the significant messages of the poignant voices of the Black men, women, sons and daughters. It captivates the reader from start to finish. It inspires, encourages and transmits the fact that our Black children can all become successful and productive if and only when the parents are truly parents.

"From the Soul" is a dynamic book centering on the proud, extraordinary and well-defined legacy of the African-American family. Nikki Giovanni stated that the book hugs. I am in total agreement. However we, as Black parents need to hug it tight, real tight for the sake of our children.

Readincolor Reviewers
Emily Means-Willis