Classics Books

It is truly unfortunate that Von Mises is perhaps the most overlooked 20th Century champion of free market capitalism. His brilliant observations have heavily influenced the momentous (and much more revered) works of Friedrich Hayek, as well as subsequent scholars such as Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, Thomas Sowell, and others. Von Mises is the one who towers over almost every other laissez-faire economist (except Adam Smith and few others). His insightful formulations devastated the incessant obfuscations of the socialists and demonstrated, once and for all, the comparative benefits of a free market system.

At the heart of SOCIALISM is the argument that economic calculation is impossible without a free market. Von Mises effectively drove home the need for a market price in order to regulate the supply and demand of human society. Recent proposals for socialized medicine completely deny this importance of the price system: if the price of medicine (for consumers) is zero, the demand will be astronomical, and the doctors and other medical personnel will not be capable of effectively meeting such demand. Few proponents of "universal health care" ever address this concern, which colorfully evidences their lack of interest in -- or understanding of -- Von Mises' penetrating contentions.

"The market is a democracy in which every penny gives a right to vote. . . . Every individual is free to disagree with an election campaign or of the market process. But in a democracy he has no other means to alter things than persuasion. If a man were to say: 'I do not like the mayor elected by majority vote; therefore I ask government to replace him by the man I prefer,' one would hardly call him a democrat. But if the same claims are raised with regard to the market, most people are too dull to discover the dictatorial apirations involved." (p. 490) Von Mises had the presence of mind to fully discern the tyrannical motivations behind most calls for a collectivist arrangement. He knew that the grotesque desires of the elite would inevitably eclipse the true inclinations of man. More than an economic dissertation, SOCIALISM was an expression of human justice, as illuminated by the deference the author paid to the individual autonomy of the common man. Respect for the personal choices of others is, after all, the defining characteristic of freedom.

Regardless of the self-serving configurations of the statists and their innumerable followers, the free market works, as evidenced by the fact that even the poor feely partake in such a system and usually enjoy a much higher standard of living than even the average citizen in socialist nations. As the American federal government continues to expand at an alarming rate, we would do well as a society to better familiarize ourselves with the philosophies of Von Mises and his progeny. Reading SOCIALISM would be a start in the right direction. Those of us who have already surveyed the book should recommend it to as many thoughtful (and open-minded) people as we know. Day by day, one person at a time, we can begin to recover and restore our devotion to liberty as a society. As the author of this tremendous book well knew, the voluntary exchange of a free market will almost always be more efficient and preferable than the coercive force of government. The hollow promises of a big, active, all-intrusive state will always lure a great percentage of our soicety -- most of them well-meaning, but averse to logic and evidence -- yet such dreams always provide the essential fuel for despotism. A return to our federalist roots (in which the states are sovereign entities rather than ineffectual subsidiaries of the federal government) and to the free market principles of Smith and Von Mises would serve us well in our on-going struggle against state-sponsored tyranny.

This is THE definitive work on the impracticality, impossibility and immorality of socialism. Von Mises, who observed socialism first hand before having to flee his home in Europe, and who lived through the age of great collectivist experiments, has written a simply devastating critique. The (supposed) reader below who wrote the review entitled "Propogating Utopian Fallacies", obviously either has not read the book, or completely misunderstood the entire thing. A more ignorant review of this book can hardly be imagined. He makes several dubious assumptions in his review and attributes them to Von Mises. He makes statements like, "Mises doesn't understand," or "Mises believes" and then proceeds to use these statements to try to refute the idea of free markets. He also fails to apply his own logical excercises to himself. For example he states that if Mises were consistent, he would have rejected all government and not just some collectivist programs. Yet the reviewer seems to be a believer in a half-way system where markets are mixed with socialism, "democracy", and government intervention. I guess he must have a monopoly on believing that governments should do some things and leave others to the anarchy of the market. Anyone familair with the rest of Mises's works and with free market and libertarian theory in general can't help but laugh at the claims he makes. This reviewer clearly does not understand property rights based, modern anarchist theory (as opposed to the Rage Against the Machine variety which he makes reference to), nor does he understand this book. The claims he makes in the last paragraph of his reveiw are so outlandish and naive that they do not even warrant a response. An important lesson can be gained here though. Without some prior (correct) understanding of concepts like markets, anarchy, liberty, the true nature of government, and without some understanding of logical processes, it is easy to fall prey to such overly-simplified arguments. I would recommend along with this book, also reading other books by authors such as Mises, Murray Rothbard, Henry Hazlitt, and F.A. Hayek.

October 25th 1817- The Bolsheviks stage a coupe in Petrograd and overthrow the Kerensky regime. For the first time ever Marxists seize control of a major nation. It will be several years before the Bolsheviks overwhelm their opponents within Russia. However, one question demands an answer. Will it work? Can socialism at least match the results of capitalism? The full answer to this question came in 1922- the year that Mises published Socialism, an Economic and Sociological Analysis. Here Mises proved that socialism must fail.

Why must socialism fail? The simple answer is because it lacks private ownership and a market for the means of production. As Mises put it "where there is no market there is no price system, and where there is no price system there can be no economic calculation". The full answer has several parts. First, economic calculation requires functioning financial markets. Second, economic calculation requires actual rivalry in markets. Third, economic calculation requires entrepreneurial alertness to profit opportunities. With these three elements in place monetary calculation of private profit reflects true economic costs. As Mises put it economic calculation "is essentially a matter for the capitalists- the capitalists who buy and sell stocks and shares, who make loans and recover them, who make deposits in the banks and draw them out of the banks again, who speculate in all kinds of commodities". Perpetually changing economic conditions mean that- "it is above all necessary that capital should be withdrawn from particular lines of production, from particular undertakings and concerns and should be applied in other lines of production, in other undertakings and concerns". Speculation in financial markets directs resources to the most urgent consumer demands because the most profitable ventures satisfy consumer demand at the least economic cost. Socialism fails because it lacks speculation that takes place only with entrepreneurial rivalry and exchange in financial markets.

The issue of economic calculation is economic, but Mises also inquired into the political and psychological reasons behind the socialist movement. He also discusses historical and cultural issues. Socialism is a full-scale treatise, comparable to Smith's Wealth of Nations. Some might think that a book from 1922 might have lost its relevance, but this is untrue. Mises explained principles that are as valid today as they were originally. In fact, Socialism is more relevant today than many recent books on economics. This is because Mises dealt with the real life problems of a dynamic economy, while much of modern economics focuses on static models that apply only to imaginary economic conditions.

Socialism is not only Mises' best book; it is one of the greatest works ever written on social theory. Mises addressed vital issues with penetrating analysis and delivered profound results. All those who are serious about political economy should read this book, but only after having read Menger's Principles of Economics, and before reading Hayek's Road to Serfdom. Those who are less ambitious should read a shorter book by Mises- Liberalism in the Classical Tradition. In any case, Socialism is a towering intellectual achievement. Were its arguments more widely understood many of the tragedies of 20th century state socialism might have been avoided. This book remains important today because it explains why we live in an age of unprecedented prosperity, and how we can achieve further progress. To put it simply Socialism is as indispensable to intellectual development as property rights are to economic development.

Does anything else need to be said?

Mises' Socialism is, perhaps, the most sociologically and economically "sound" theoretical attack on socialism to date. Happily, Dr. Mises' general position has been promulgated in economic journals since the post-war generation, and is the topic of the still relevant "calculation debate." It is not so pleasant that the insights of Mises are largely ignored by the sociology profession (probably because most sociologists continue to be prepossessed by Marxian materialism). However, sociologists who are seduced by the Marxian doctrine will be interested in this theoretical work because it asserts that social life can only be completely transformed, for the worst, under a centrally planned socioeconomic system. Further, Mises' erudition is manifest as he demolishes the work of Karl Marx and other utopians.

The central insight in this text for sociology is that "socialism" must manufacture an "artificial market." That is, a non-private property based market economy where managers will be given incentives in order to perform as private private owners who do business in a socioeconomic system analgous to "rational capitalism." This implication of an overhaul of social institutions (e.g., legal and monetary institutions) is a trenchant one. Hence, the idea of socialism is largely a sociopolitical problem, and one must move outside the perimeters of economic theory in order to address them. And Mises does just that!

The economic and sociological acumen in this work makes the price a steal. I must add, however, that more social scientists outside of economics need to read this tome because one cannot truly understand "society" without an understanding of economics.

My husband introduced me to this cookbook over 30 years ago and it has been a favorite ever since. The recipes are flavorful and easy to make. The section on spices is very informative and helpful. The only thing I do differently than spelled out in the recipes is to use fresh onions instead of dried.

This book is favorite of my mother's and was given to me. I am now sending a copy to my daughter. The recipies are outstanding.

I have had to replace this cookbook, because I have used it so much...I enjoy the artwork.
I am reminded of how at one time, food might have been very bland without spices.
I cherish this book and hope I will not have to replace it again...
If you find one, buy it...at ANY PRICE!

This cookbook was a gift from my mother. I have always used it for over 34 years to find unusual or special recipes. After I made several recipes that caused my mother (a wonderful cook) to rave, she said that she wished she had kept it for herself, instead of giving it to me. Recently, I found 5 used copies of the book that I bought for my two daughters, my daughter-in-law, two nieces, and my sister-in-law. It is the best cookbook. Too bad it is out-of-print! I wish the binding were made of steel, because I have had to mend mine several times--it is loved and cooked to pieces.

My mother and her two sisters each received this cookbook in the sixties for a Christmas present, and I was lucky enough to end up with one. This has been my "flagship" cookbook...the one I turn to again and again. The stories about spices are interesting, and every recipe I have tried I have used over and over for company as well as everyday meals. There is enough basic cookery information for even very new cooks. I want to give a copy to my daughter so this can be a legacy cookbook.

Two stories interwoven into one poetic narrative. The story of the author's relationship with his father is enmeshed in the greater story of his people falling under Israeli occupation. There is much tension in this book: the tension of defending political prisoners subjected to torture in Israeli jails; the tension resulting from the author's choice not to follow in his father's footsteps and concentrate on human rights work rather than law practice; the tension from the destruction of land by the occupation and the erection of settlements. In the end, the two narratives unite as the the author's efforts to find his father's murderer are frustrated because of the occupation. A sad and moving human story, has much to tell for people everywhere.

This is an excellent look into occupation and the way it affects those under occupation. The Palestinian voice is one seldom heard by the West which is why this work is so very important. To often it seems as if the Israeli/Palestinian narrative is simply scripted for us by those outside of the conflict so that we form conclusions without actually knowing the story from those who are living it.

One of the things I really liked about this book is that it is not a one sided harangue about the horrible Israelis and how bad the occupation is and how the Palestinians are simply victims, but is instead a telling indictment of both sides. The author sees the plethora of missed opportunities that have plagued the Palestinians since the creation of the state of Israel. The Palestinians so often seemed content to simply play the role of victims rather than actually take responsibility for their own lives and move forward to build a functioning society. Many times they waited to be saved by neighboring states, the UN and others without realizing that they are the only ones who can save themselves. They have allowed themselves, under terrible circumstances granted, to stagnate instead pushing forward.

The Israeli occupation and government shoulders a heavy burden of blame for the situation also. They have made Palestinian life so difficult that it was almost impossible for a positive, healthy society to erect itself in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel had a choice between taking more land and helping to create a stable neighbor or expanding their territory. They chose the latter and so chose perpetual strife. The animosity runs so deep now that even if a solution could be found it will be generations before the hate and anger can be healed.

Neither side is innocent in this conflict, and both sides are guilty for the current situation. This book shows how even a moderate can be pushed into becoming radical. I think one of the most poignant aspects of this book is that from the beginning there is always this hope. Hope that one day the land will be restored to the Palestinians. Hope that there will be peace. Hope that a decent life will be able to be lived. There is always this hope until the end of the book when the author finally backs the intifada. I felt as though the author had lost hope in moderate, peaceful solution. The whole book seemed to be a moderate man attempting to find a compromise solution to the problem. He fought both sides for the middle and end the end recognized the futility. Both sides have done so much to create futility out of hope.

I was at first taken aback by the way Palestinian lawyer and writer Raja Shehadeh chose to begin this book, his memoir. Knowing that he is a very important figure in Palestine, I expected (even half-dreaded) a right-on plunge in the middle of Israeli/Middle-Eastern politics. I was wrong.

Although he begins by mentioning the 1948 war as a fact that explains his having been born in Ramallah and not Jaffa, where his family was very important, that's just about it.....in the beginning. We are treated then to a delicately rendered description of the writer's childhood: to a vision of the almost sad figure of a fragile child whose life seems always measured against the looming and powerful figure of his father (a very important Palestinian lawyer), and the impossible to reach lights and colours of neverland-Jaffa, the way of life that the family had lost forever.

It is the relationship with the father, however, what soon becomes the focus of this memoir. And here we must admire one of the most important aspects of the book: an honest-to-God account of how this boy, then young man, then adult, managed his growing, changing relationship with a strong and powerful father. I was swept from my feet at having such a first hand description of a never-easy son/father relationship. I must confess I was astounded that this incredibly sincere testimony was rendered by an Arab man since, as the same author acknowledges, his is a culture where the son/father bond tends to be quite distant, formal and formidable.

We, readers, see how having such an important father proves to be a load, but also a challenge for the author. And as he begins to be more sure about what his place in the world is, and what his mission is, the world of politics (which had never quite disappeared from the background) returns with force, but in such a way that provokes a fatal crisis in this already difficult son/father relationship. And just as the situation appears to be unbearable, just as the breach seems impossible to mend......Raja's father is murdered.

Here the book takes an abrupt turn. Raja decides to help as much as he can to find the murderer, whom he believes to be someone involved in a land dispute his father was working on. He is good. The pace and tempo of the narrative change so that we begin to feel the urge to know who this murderer is, for we are much pretty sure of why the murder took place......and I won't spoil the ending for you. I'll just say that it is important. Very important. For Raja and for all of us.

Just as this seemingly humble book is terribly important: as the personal memoir of a man who has always been politically moderate, a fighter for human rights, one of the few Palestinians who has ever dared to criticise the politics of the Palestinian leaders and of the Arab leaders; one of the few who was always convinced that Arabs had to negotiate with Israeli, that Israel was there to stay; as a honest, moving homage to a father who was a powerful force in the author's life (and who taught him to see politics and the Middle-East the way he saw it);..... as a way to know more about that rarely-found-in-the-news-and-media specimen: the Arab, Palestinian moderate, and the way he fares.

As an American, I have grown up to believe that Israel is a close friend to us. I would imagine that an ally of the United States would be a country that follows human rights guidelines. However, I was mistaken. "Strangers in the House" is a brilliantly written piece which provides personal experiences in an occupied Palestine. With all of the conflict in the Middle East currently, it is a must-read, to understand the viewpoint from all angles. Raja Shehadeh thinks way past his time, as his father had. He has written this book for the world to know what daily life is like under occupation and that it is a constant struggle. Mr. Shehadeh is admirable in his open-mindedness. If you would like to see the viewpoint from the other side, this book is perfect. It will help you open your mind and see the truth.

Shehadeh's book is perhaps the only one to lay out the multi-faceted nature of the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict. Or, as Shehadeh, puts it so eloquently a conflict between Palestinians, Israelis, the "inside" and the "outside".

For me, the most touching moment of the book came when the young Shehadeh heard the PLO radio denounce his father for daring to work for a two-state solution. "A.S.," it declared, "you are a traitor, a despicable collaborator. You want to surrender and sell your birthright. We know how to deal with the likes of you. A. S. you shall pay for your treason. We shall eliminate you. Silence you forever. Traitor. Collaborator. Quisling."

The PLO quite simply could not afford to lose the funding it received from the surrounding Arab states to create a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians and also to ensure that Israel would no longer "be the subject of fiery speeches in which the people's rage could be articulated and released-they would be distracted from dealing with all that was wrong at home."

The PLO simply could not afford peace because it wasn't being paid to bring about either peace or an independent Palestinian State; it was being paid to keep the Palestinians miserable and angry. To ensure that the Palestinian plight remained a distraction for the Arabs earning for democracy.

Shehadeh's father dared to stand up to the PLO and its backers. He was murdered.

And now, his son is carrying on his father's work.

It is our job to make sure that Raja's life lasts longer than his father's.

I was wildly attracted to the insane looking creatures on the book's cover and even more ecstatic when I found this kit offered; the obvious benefit that you can make a creature immediately - and I'm sure Mr. Murphy, the author, knew that once that was done, you'd be hopelessly hooked!

You'd think a sock would pose many limitations, but once you get the simple, basic techniques down, you're limited only by your own imagination. The slightest alteration in stitching and element placement (limbs, facial features, etc.) can produce fantastically varying results.

Important to me, a "stuffing novice", was the inclusion in this kit of the appropriate polyester fiberfill which is extremely soft and fluffy. (Michael's sells what I found was the best, Fairfield's Poly-fil Supreme.)

You really can't go wrong with the wonderfully detailed instructions and helpful tips in this book. And get this... he even provides ideas on how to use the leftover scraps from each project. I think at that point, I was ready to give him my first born. *lol* Once I finished my first creature, I couldn't help but giggle every time I looked at him sitting on the back of the couch. Each subsequent creature's personality blossomed quickly and amusingly. I originally wanted to make these as gifts, but I'm finding that I just can't part with my new friends!

This book takes good juju to an entirely new level. Every detail has a smile or three behind it, and the net effect is a better world. Enjoy it too much, as I do.

The kit comes with everything you need, however, instuctions are not easy to follow. I bought this for a 6 year old and ended up doing most of the work myself.

Great fun book. I can hardly wait to lay in a supply of kinky socks and make a bunch of these creatures.

I purchased this kit for my 11 year old son, as he always has great fun entertaining the family with his impromtu sock puppets. The skills needed to create the little guys are a little more advanced than I thought, so I ended up doing most of the sewing...but it still has turned out to be a fantastic gift. My son and I will plan a creature out, and once he is finished, he has something to cherish that we did together. We enjoyed learning about the author from he website, and wish him all the success in the world!

Our Family is constantly on the run and find little time to put meals together. This cookbook makes the process simple, by listing ingredients and directions in a colorful table format that is easy to follow. The recipes are customized by serving, which makes it effortless to prepare our favorite recipes for 2 to 6 people (without having to do the math). I find myself opening this cookbook frequently, especially when we're having a time crunch. Since it's ring bound, I'm able to pull out the recipe page, copy it & take it to the grocery store - easy grocery store list! What a WONDERFUL answer to that timeless question of "what's for dinner"?

We were looking for a cookbook to help simplify dinners for the family. This one has great recipes that are easy to follow and also have recommendations for vegetables and side dishes. This was a perfect addition to our collection when entertaining friends that prefer a casual home-cooked meal to dining out.

Excellent resource! It's all about complete meals done right. No matter how many you're preparing for, this has flexible choices to prepare the proper amount with paired side dishes, desserts, and wines. Even suggestions for setting the table. I'm looking forward to trying the Creme Brulee and the Garlic & Rosemary Focaccia. It has been a very big help in being creative with dinner.

Sundown Cafe Sundown Cafe: The Simple Art of Creating Meals; Dinner Classics Collectionwas a great new addition to my cookbook collection. The recipes are classic with a twist. Many of our old favorites are included with suggetions to make them new. I really love the full meal suggestions with each recipe - complimentary vegetables, side dishes, breads, desserts and even wines, all with references to the recipes included elsewhere in the book. The author also rates each recipe so you know how difficult or time consuming the recipe is and provides and alternative for each.

This is a great addition for the experienced or inexperienced cook - consider for a new bride!

As a frequent entertainer, I'm always cooking for various sized dinner parties. One of the things I LOVE about this cookbook is that I don't have to try to figure out how to adjust my favorite recipes for varying party sizes; it's already done for you!

Also, since I easily get into a rut with my day-to-day meal ideas, the mix & match format for sides, desserts, wine pairing, etc., helps to make my staple meals seem new. (Who knew there was so much added valuable information in the back of the book above and beyond recipes???)

LOVE IT!

PS: You have to try to Moroccan Style chicken -it's one of my new favorites! Works will with pork chop cutlets too!

This thin volume provides an excellent introduction to many of the most important supreme court cases that shape this country, and could be used as a guide for further readings on them. Each chapter review a specific topic (separation of church and state, discrimination, etc.), with important cases looking at different aspects of it. Highly recommended!

After seeing a 60 MINUTES interview with Judge Scalia recently I wanted to know more about the Supreme Court. This was one of the most interesting books I have read in years. I read it in just a few days and would highly recommend it to anyone. It talks about the evolution of the Supreme court and their most important decisons, decisions that effect us everyday. Also it is written in plain english so you do not need to be a lawyer to understand and enjoy it. Great book!

From Marbury v. Madison to Gore v. Bush, this book covers the most important cases in Supreme Court history. It's very clear and concise, an absolute delight to read.

Sure, you've heard of many of the cases in this book. But do you know what the legal underpinnings of "Roe vs. Wade" actually are? Do you know how the court derives its power?

I've been talking to everyone I know about this little gem, because it is so darn readable, and so relevant. Yesterday my local paper ran a story about filtering software the local library may soon install. And this morning I finished the book after reading about the cases that are directly tied to this course of action. So I can speak more intelligently about this issue, and I can read the paper with a more informed perspective.

Many of the cases are introduced by discussing a logical framework that parallels the facts of the case. The case is then introduced, and the arguments and reasoning that drove the court are discussed. Wow, that makes it sound really boring. But on the contrary, its a fun read and each chapter is short and encapsulated. Highly recommended.

I bought this as a gift, decided I'd better preview it first, and now I don't want to give it up. I'm ordering another one. Believe what the other 5-star reviewers have written.

I am in the process of answering a questionnaire asking, if I could recommend one book to someone to read, what book would it be?

I came on this site to check the spelling of the full name of this book.

I love this book.

"Swimming Lessons", a short story collection, may be Mistry's earliest published work. He of course wrote the awesome "A Fine Balance", a panoramic look at life in India circa 1975. "Lessons" is set in about the same time period and chronicles the life experiences of middle-class Indians from a particular apartment complex. Major characters in one story show up as minor characters in other stories, giving the book a novelistic feel. Emigration, experienced directly by Mistry in his early 20's as he moved to Canada, is a major theme of the book. The story "Squatters", contains a "story inside the story" that affect your thinking about the trials of emigration (as it relates to bodily functions) for a long time. Those who know Mistry will enjoy this look at his early writing. Newcomers to Mistry might enjoy the short story form as an intro before tackling the epic "A Fine Balance."

A collection of interwoven tales told from the perspective of the different residents of Ferozsha Baag, an apartment building in Bombay. All the stories are good; some are outstanding. In particular, the story of the son who emigrates to Canada to become a writer has a uniquely autobiographical feel to it. =)

I read A Fine Balance about a year ago and loved it. I just finished Swimming Lessons and I'm going out to buy Family Matters right now. He writes so beautifully and descriptively that you feel that you lived alongside the characters in his books.He's my favorite author right now.

And I thought that "A Fine Balance" was Rohinton's best! Yet again, I find myself speechless in my admiration for his astute command of language. His precise and inventive prose never quits until he has portrayed an image in sentences. Images that I grew up with myself but never quite would have thought of expressing in the grippingly sensitive way he can.

Swimming Lessons is a collection of such reminiscences from the author's childhood in a Parsi neighborhood in suburban middle-class Bombay. The setting itself may be confined to a particular community, but his compassionate brush carves such a wide sweep of the minutest of human emotions that the sheer force of this book is not in its plot or setting, but in its recognition of the universal bounty of life.

Our quirky residents of 'Firozsha Baag' have every reason to be disconcerted and baffled with their difficult lives. The walls of their building complex are coming apart. Washroom flushes don't work. One family has the refrigerator that's shared by the entire colony, and another has the common telephone. Their lives are marred by simple everyday things, innocent infatuations, unconfessed fantasies, fatal jealousies, neighborhood bullies, petty thefts, memory lapses, shared newspapers, cultural/generational clashes, etc etc.

Yet, beneath this veneer of this seeming hardships glimmers a subtle undercurrent of hope and happiness, of a bond that does not need expressing in the common social forms.

The high praise that Mistry has garnered is not exaggerated. The man has a disarming sense of humor and a lingering sense of what makes literature great. I laughed, I cried, I sat back and pondered. I was especially stirred by the moving story "Of White Hairs and Cricket", and the cover story, which is saved for the last, "Swimming Pools."

Couldn't recommend this brilliant compilation highly enough. It hardly reads like a debut.

First published by Cassell & Co. in 1949, Winston Churchill goes to the meat of the subject of World War II. It starts with Winston taking the helm in 1940 with a National Coalition government. The fall of France, the deliverance of Dunkirk all melds into an English National nightmare for Mr. Churchill.
The agony of an eminent invasion of Hitler's Teutonic forces leads Winston to declare "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." Next came the Battle of Britain in which Churchill utters the classic statement of this great struggle, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Winston was in charge during this extraordinary historical event.
Winston describes his Naval relationship with FDR and with continued prodding convinces him into the remarkable program of Lend-Lease. It is here that Winston is both an excellent Salesman and a proper Statesman. He neither comes hat in hand nor does he come as a demanding potentate. He merely states the facts of the situation as they are. In the long run Roosevelt agreed.
Germany finally violates Russia. England is joined at the hip to the Russian Bear. What choice did England have? The long wait of fighting Germany alone was over. Pray tell what of a Grand Alliance with the giant of North America.
I found this book to be the highlight of Winston's writing of the Second World War. If you don't read it, shame on you!!

As a late boomer (47) one of my earliest memories was watching Churchill's funeral on TV. I remember feeling it was such a solemn occasion, I wasn't sure exactly why at three years old, but I felt it. Many years later I live on the other side of the planet. I met Winston's grandson, who was my local MP before I left England.
This is a fascinating insight into the situation, of decisions made and my first, first hand read from his own hand, there are many very important decisions made, on the hoof, with lives at stake, national identities at stake.
I intend to read more, from his WW1 books, to hopefully gain a clearer idea of what happened in the Dardinelles, an event which is used to create a pivot for the national identity here.

In the first half of Vol. 2, 'Their Finest Hour', Churchill covers the Battle of France. As new Prime Minister he sets up his Coalition Government to fight the 'common cause' and prepare for the War. Germany was already in France and the Western Front was under attack. The Belgian Government was striving to remain neutral and soon all was being lost in the 'deluge of disaster'. The Germans broke the Maginot line and soon the Battle of France was lost. There was the successful deliverance of the British Expeditionary Force at Dunkirk and the preparations to defend the home front.

The second half deals with the Battle of Britain with Hitler preparing for 'Operation Sea Lion'. In order for the invasion of England to be successful, Germany first had to control the air. London and various areas were shaken but neither the spirit nor the Country destroyed. Italy was on the move, in the Mediterranean, and invading the African coast. The Battle of Britain was won and the RAF had 'Their finest Hour', but the War was far from over. This volume covers the timeline of May 10, 1940 to Jan. 5, 1941.

It should be noted and remembered that England stands in a different position militarily than France. England is a small, ancient, insular island that has withstood many centuries of assaults and attempted invasions. So when Hitler and his forces sought to make the same attempt, not only the RAF and the Royal Navy but history was standing against them. Also it wasn't just England alone that was fighting. It was also their devoted Commonwealth, Dominions and Empirical Attachments that were involved in the war. England was pulling resources from all over their Empire. For instance, Australia and New Zealand were fighting on the African coast and in Greece.

America, under FDR, was moving closer to the war with the Lend-Lease Act and Japan was watching in the wings. Hilter was changing his war direction and moving into the Eastern Front. Stalin was changing his alliance with Hitler and moving closer to Britian and the United States. The impact and weight of the World's destiny was in the balance and starting to slowly shift. Nothing was yet certain and U-Boat packs still prowled the ocean.

This is another of those 'deserves to be read' books. Churchill fills in the volume with his correspondence and hindsight. It is good to read and become acquainted with Churchill's thoughts and this fateful time, in history, so that hopefully there will be no repeating of these terrible events. Well worth adding to the Library.

Americans have a warped view of history, and little understanding of the role of aristocracy and class in history--our own or Britain's. Churchill was a card carrying member of the aristocracy; one of the small group of men who ran England up to, and through, World War II. Their Finest Hour is an amazing documentation of the very height, and at the same time, end, of the all powerful aristocracy in England.

Churchill's second volume of his Six Volume history of the Second World War begins with May, 1940, as the German army is rolling through Luxembourg and Belgium (both clinging to their neutrality right up to the minute the German tanks crossed the border), toward a woefully unprepared France (still reliant upon the Maginot Line, which in turn depended on Luxembourg and Belgium neutrality.

Churchill has just assumed the post of Prime Minister, after having spent the prior year (and several before that) as an outsider bemoaning the refusal of Britain (and France) to prepare to meet the rising German threat. Those years of exile are the subject of volume one.

The present volume focuses on the extraordinary difficulties Churchill and others in the British government faced once the war actually began. Once France was forced to surrender, Germany was left in what most of us think of as continental Europe without any enemies. It had allied itself with fascist Italy, made peace with Stalin, conquered Poland and France, neutralized Spain, and occupied Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, and the Netherlands.

In this sense, Britain stood alone. There was a very real risk that Germany could invade and conquer Britain in the Summer and early Fall of 1940. The German bombing of London was increasingly effective, and the British army was in total disarray, having just been forced to abandon France, leaving most of its equipment behind. Just how worried Churchill was comes through clearly and terrifyingly in this volume. Had Germany succeeded, the world might look very different today--the Second World War would have been transformed into a truly intercontinental war, with Asia and Europe allied against North America.

Of course, Britain was not really "Alone." Greece and Turkey were firm allies; Bulgaria and Yugoslavia stood against Hitler and Italy; and Britain controlled most of what we today think of as the third world--from Gibraltar at the southern tip of Europe, to Egypt, to South Africa, India, Malaysia and Burma, and Australia. Only by adopting a firmly eurocentric view of the world (which Churchill clearly had) can he title this volume "Alone."

Churchill and the rest of his government were able to move seamlessly into power, and immediately take control of this world wide empire precisely because of the peculiarly insular class system that ruled Britain. Even as an outsider, Churchill clearly had full access to all of the centers of power. He could not bend and shape them, but he was fully in the loop. Personal relationships and lifelong associations meant that he regularly met with leaders at all levels of the power structure--including most importantly (but by no means exclusively) top politicians and naval personnel. This sort of access by "losing" politicians in the United States today is unimaginable. Can anyone seriously envision Bush allowing the head of the CIA to meet regularly with Howard Dean to review the intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?

The only weakness in this volume is Churchill's over reliance on his own contemporaneous telegrams and memos. he was absolutely prolific, apparently having dictated dozens of multi-page memos daily--yet still finding time to run the government. While fascinating historically, they really are bureaucratic memos. The first volume, by relying more on narration and less on historical documents, allowed Churchill greater reign to his incredible skill with the English language. Here, long sections read like just what they are--official documents written in haste, for the historical record.

That said, his brilliant use of words shines through. The most stirring passage is toward the end--his eulogy in November, 1940, for Neville Chamberlain, who more than anyone was responsible for "appeasing" Hitler. Rather than lapse into "I told you so", he marshals some of the most stirring words ever written to praise Chamberlain; urging history to judge him on the strength of his character rather than the results of his actions, which are subject to the fickleness of history.

In sum, this is a remarkable book, chronicling a remarkable time in history, written by a remarkable man who played a central roll in events. I can think of no other book by anyone at anytime which brings together all three of these elements--and is well written!

After reading this book, you truly begin to see how narrow minded the average American perception of World War II really is. Not to discount the magnificant American battles such as the landing at Normandy or the Battle for Midway, but the Battle for Britain was absolutely the finest display of honor and courage throughout the entire war. This tiny island and it's courageous people stood alone and stood tall against not only the behemoth Nazi-German menace, but at the same time fought the Mussolini in northern Africa and awaited the Japanese onslaught in their Australasian colonies. It's an absolutely inspiring work, and it's an absolute sin that American schools don't teach the story of how the British people shined so brightly during their darkest hour.

The Melendy family has moved from New York City. It's summertime and their father is in Washington on important business. The loveable housekeeper Cuffy must leave to care for her cousin who has suffered a fall. Since Willy (also employed by the Melendy family) is in residence, Cuffy decides to leave the children on their own.

As in the previous two books in the Melendy series, there are adventures enough to last a lifetime. Some are fun and others are darker, sadder and more dangerous.

The children meet Mark Herron. He's a lonely orphan who has a nasty guardian in Oren Meeker. Then there's the wonderful story of Mr. Titus and the 12-pound catfish, an illegal whiskey still, a house fire that results in death, the despicable DeLaceys, the resolve of the children to make sure the canning of the victory garden is done and the house is spotless by the time Cuffy returns home, and a surprise involving Mark and the Melendys. There are obstacles to overcome and everyone pitches in to see that the story has a happy ending.

Then There Were Five is nostalgia at its best. The time is World War II and life is difficult, but the Melendys love each other, care for their neighbors and work hard keeping up their home while Father and Cuffy are gone-and manage to have adventures at the same time. I'll read this novel again and again.

Armchair Interviews says: The entire Melendy series is a must read. Start with The Saturdays. You'll want to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

I read the Melendy books at around the age the rest of you did--but that was 55 years ago. At the age of 65, I'm about to order the Quartet to read them again. I just saw on someone's blog a photograph of a beautiful light-green moth chrysalis with golden flecks that looks like a jade earring. I'd never seen such a chrysalis, either "live" or in a photo, but I recognized it instantly as the one Mona discovers by the brook (forget which book now). I was swept by a wave of nostalgia and came right to Amazon to order the books, and that warm feeling was only intensified as I read the reviews mentioning readers' favorite bits, almost all of which I remember. I can hardly wait to read again the wonderful description of Fafner the dragon at the Met, and the chaotic scenes of Randy and Mona in the throes of preserving summer produce, complete with exploding jars of tomatoes.

I can't imagine why I haven't gotten hold of these utterly magical books that were such a blessing in my childhood to reread long since, but better late than never.

"Then There Were Five" in the third book in the Melendy Quartet, and picks up immediately where "The Four-Story Mistake" left off. We meet the Melendy children again on a hot June afternoon, when they are building a dam across the brook on their property to make it deep enough to swim in. It's a team effort and everybody is pulling their weight. It's typical of this family; they play and share alike.

But unlike the first two Melendy books, which were more or less a series of unrelated adventures, "Then There Were Five has a plot running all through it. World War II is on everybody's mind. Father is away in Washington for most of the book, working at a government job "so secret I have to guard against talking to myself". The four Melendy children are left in the care of Cuffy, their housekeeper, and Willy Sloper, their handyman. The war has everyone involved. Cuffy is growing a Victory Garden. Oliver is adding to the family diet by fishing every day in the brook (Rush has chub coming out of his ears), and Rush and Randy start on an ambitious scrap drive. And its on their scrap drive in the countryside that they meet a person who will become a part of their lives forever.

Chased off one farm by an evil drunk named Oren Meeker, Rush and Randy meet his young cousin Mark Herron, thirteen years old, orphaned at an early age and living with Oren because he has no other family. Oren is cruel and abusive; we learn that on the infrequent occasions Mark has been allowed to attend school, he has shown up with black eyes and an empty lunchbox. But he's managed to survive despite his depressing home; he's bright, friendly, hardworking and resourceful. Randy and Rush take to him right off the bat. If only there were some way they could help him.

Parallel to Mark's story there are plenty of amusing sidelights such as Oliver's obsession with creepy-crawly things, Mona's impulsive decision to can everything in the vegetable garden while Cuffy is off visiting a sick cousin, and a family picnic where Oliver manages to fall down a well. But the story of meeting and rescuing Mark is central to the book, and lends the book much of its undertone, which is darker and more mature than the first two Melendy books. Enright shows her young readers that not all families are happy like the Melendy family; some families are unhappy, abusive and cruel. The Melendy children realize how fortunate they are not only to not have a family like Mark's, but also to be able to share what they have.

Although the book spans only one summer, the Melendy children do a lot of growing up in three and a half months. They prove themselves to be resourceful and resilient, remarkably able to look out for themselves and each other with only occasional adult supervision while Father is away in Washington and Cuffy is off attending a family emergency. We realize how lucky Mark is to become part of this vibrant family. We almost wish we could be part of it as well.

Judy Lind

I agree with those who say that this is the best book out of the four. It's definitely the most complex, and has the most character development. Mark, who was an abused child long before that became a catch-phrase, is sketched out wonderfully. Oren's sister, who he mentioned early on, must have been a good influence on him, because he's resilient, kind and intelligent, despite what he has to put up with from Oren. I agree with Rush when he said the Melendys were the lucky ones, to get Mark for a brother!

Although I did think Rush was pretty rude, barging in every day while the girls were canning, and demanding to be fed immediately! Did he think that just because Mona and Randy didn't have a five-course meal ready and waiting, that they were going to let the guys starve? And it's not like they'd been doing nothing! God bless Mr. Titus for helping them out!

My favorite bits were when Rush and Mark spy on Oren and his pals at the still---that was real adult talk, but still appropriate for a kids' book: not easy to bring off---and the auction and fair. I loved when the Delacey brothers showed up and bid on the boar. "The three of them should be very happy together"---good one, Willy!

And I felt so bad for Oliver when he fell down the well! That was a good device, too. For so long, he'd gotten so little attention because he didn't demand any, and look what finally happened. It forced the other kids to realize how much they cared about him, and show it, and they handled it themselves, showing how capable they were. Good for them!

And I also liked when Cuffy was leaving to visit her cousin and had to cram weeks worth of nagging into an hour. "Close the windows whenever it rains! (Duh!) Call me long distance if anything goes wrong! (And that will help, how?) Don't forget to feed the DOGS! (Like they'd let you!)"

The third Melendy novel has a darker undertone than the preceding two, with the introduction of Mark Herron, a lonely orphan befriended by Rush and Randy, and his guardian-cousin, the fearsome Oren Meeker. There are thrills and heart-clutchers a-plenty--Rush and Mark spying on an illegal whiskey still, a vividly described house fire--but they're nicely leavened by the lighter incidents like the character of Mr. Jasper Titus, rural gourmand, and the resolve of Mona and Randy to undertake the canning of the family's victory-garden produce. And in the end everything comes out right, as it should in a juvenile. This is the book to which Enright was leading up with the previous two, and perhaps the best she wrote. The whole trilogy would make a splendid miniseries on TV (is any executive reading this? I'll even do the script!).

Imagine that! Poe actually lived here, and I missed it!
Good read! Glad he's finally settled!

This is a great book. Endlessly fun and insightful and funny. Poe's adventuresome spirit sweeps-up the reader and delivers us to places we may probably never go. He dares to visit the shadow of America as well, and delivers to us the jewels of characters hidden therein. The experiences through which they all live are painted here in vivid, full spectrum color. I would buy and/or read anything this guy writes.

I am not very good at writing reviews, but just wanted to say this is a great book which deserves reading!!!

I became a fan of Poe Ballantine through reading his articles in The Sun magazine. This collection of short stories is just great. They are all autobiographical stories about his stays in different areas of the US and Mexico. The editorial, or maybe confessional, "twist" he puts on each experience is what makes the narrative so interesting.

If life were a greyhound bus, you would find Poe Ballantine out on the front bumper, experiencing it sooner and more intensely than the rest of us. This book is a collection of dispatches from the road, and what they have to tell us is edifying, entertaining, terrifying, and reassuring, as well as utterly authentic. Some readers have likened Ballantine to Charles Bukowski, and certain common themes suggest the comparison, but Ballantine's sympathy, wry understanding, and cheerless optimism have more in common with the themes of Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams.