History Books

This book inspires me to be a better person. Cheers to Greg and David for writing something totally worth reading. Cheers to Greg and all of his pals who have lived this truly inspiring story. Bravo!

As a voracious reader I have read the masterworks of many literary greats and been engulfed, if not transported, by the prowess of equally great, though not necessarily noteworthy, authors and storytellers. Three Cups of Tea is unequivocally the best story I've ever read (could be that this is where my head is these days). Beautifully written, it's one man's tale of a failed attempt to summit the most razorous of Himalayan peaks and how that failure lead to his benevolent efforts and selfless success as humanitarian. Greg Mortensen, Director of the Central Asia Institute established stateside, is a real American hero. His mission is to combat poverty and subjugation with education - "books not bombs". CAI has built over 50 schools, particularly for girls, in the most rugged and sequestered terrain of Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan in the last 15 years. The alliances he's forged and relationships he's built with the most unlikely cast of characters is a real testament to Greg's passion for his work and a genuine belief in the fundamental and universal human need for self-reliance.

I found this book on the bottom shelf in a bookstore at the Albequerque Airport and I hadn't read ANYTHING about it beforehand but only now have seen other Amazon reviews. I am a teacher at a school in a suburb and have recently seen a major decline in the educational values of students and parents in our district which not only saddens me, but scares me as well - especially when I realize that these kids will grow up to be adults in our society. I commend "Dr. Greg" for his passion in educating the children in these remote areas. My hope for all who read this book is that they would become more aware of the ramifications of uneducated people in their own community as well as around the world.

There is very few books that can move you like Three Cups of Tea. This book also educates us...

Let me begin with the requisite: This book is beautiful and inspiring. Beyond that, though, it is a case-study in development favoring a pragmatic, bottom-up approach as championed by William Easterly (author of "The White Man's Burden.")

There have been so many well-written reviews of this book that I wish not to extol it any further, but rather address a couple concerns brought up in the handful of grieved reviews. First is that the book is "overly polished" and too thick with detail; on the contrary, the little flourishes of detail embellish a story that would otherwise drift from drab village to drab village. The second criticism is that Mortenson is "ego-centric" and Relin overly apt to praise him. I would strongly disagree with the first, especially since--contrary to what some people believe (if they did not read the introduction)--Mortenson was not an author, per se, but rather a contributor. And--while Relin never quite goes into great detail about the criticisms lobbied against Mortenson--there is, in fact, very little to touch upon there aside from a few Islam-phobic, unworldly Americans.

Bottom line: Read. Not just this book, but any book--enjoy that privilege which, as we are reminded here, so many in the world still lack.

I can't recall the number of non-fiction books that I've read. Little matter, this is the most incredible true story that I've read!!
Laura Hillenbrand has captured a time in American History. She is a true storyteller who has done impeccable research. It must have been the time she spent in Gambier, Ohio at Kenyon College that inspired her to such great in depth writing.
For those of you who have not read this book or have not seen the excellent movie, you're in for an incredible treat. Trust Me!!
If I were writing fiction, this true story would not have been told. Charles Howard, Red Pollard and Tom Smith are indeed the Holy Trinity. Remember these names, after reading this book, you will never forget them.
One little horse, so much history!!! Incredible!!!!

I have recently read Seabiscuit and watched the film and found both to be very compelling. We dont think much anymore about the dark days of the Depression but Laura Hillenbrand puts us right back in the middle of it. The important lesson was to look to the future as Charles Howard implored, the sun will come up tomorrow.

Three incredible characters intersect with this horse of unknown promise. Howard is the wealthy owner, despondent over the death of his son and unsure how to live the life of leisure; Red Pollard is a jockey not able to break into the big-time, due to his attitude, blindness, and injuries; Tom Smith is a taciturn man who belongs in the 19th century of his youth, not the modern world. Together they develop and promote Seabiscuit, a horse of incredible bloodlines, yet given up on by better trainers due to his work habits, attitude, injuries, and size.

Eventually the Biscuit wins all the stakes in the state of California and gets a shot at a match race with the great Eastern horse and Triple Crown winner, War Admiral. Both horses are descendants of the great Man'o'war, but the eastern elites dont want to give the western upstart his chance. After a few cancellations due to injuries and prickly owners, the match race goes off in Baltimore and the smaller horse brings it home.

The book is more enlighting with respect to the fuller stories of the characters, especially the relationship between the jockeys and Pollard's romance and marriage to a Boston nurse. The movie brings the times to life. Howard and Pollard were the raconteurs who made Seabiscuit the hero of the little guys during those lean years. Dont forget, tough times dont last but tough guys do.

Ms. Hillenbrand is an equally interesting story. She suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and is only able to work at a fraction of the typical writer. Here she focused her energy on this story and these times. Seabiscuit has been the story many times in film and books but Ms. Hillenbrand brings it to life for us.

This book is a true American legend at its best. "Seabiscuit" was written by Laura Hillenbrand based on a true story of one horse and jockey's incredible life. This biography is set in the 1930's and 1940's and takes you on a journey with someone and something that no one believed in until they were given a chance to prove themselves. The perseverance of these two characters is admirable; they never give up, no matter what. The jockey, John Pollard, was struggling in life until given the shot to show he was more than just an average jockey. Seabiscuit, on the other hand, is my favorite character; he never accepts the possibility of losing. Pollard and Seabiscuit's relationship started when trainer Tom Smith paired them together out on the racetrack. I love that they were given a chance to prove everyone wrong by winning race after race with odds stacked against them; both had been injured numerous times. Read about how they smashed people's disbelief and made history, performing one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports. The theme of "never giving up no matter what" would most likely interest people who enjoy sports novels. "Seabiscuit" is truly the greatest sports story of all time.

This narrative leaps out of the first paragraph in the same way Seabiscuit learns to bolt from the starting gate. From the start, Laura Hillenbrand draws the reader into the story with colorful, taut writing. There are no meaningless side stories in this book - each detail weaves itself back into the tale of a horse who beat the odds to become one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
This story is gripping even if you have no interest in horseracing.

Seabiscuit is a great story, book, and movie. If you have not read it, buy it today and start reading. You will not be disappointed.

The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul is a short book that attempts to bring to light some of the glaring mistakes the US has embarked on (or already pretty far down the road of).

Anyone unfamiliar with Dr. Paul's stands on political issues, or do not fully know where his position are derived from, ought to read this book and see that all which is required is some logic, history, and tons of reality.

I consider this to be light reading, there is nothing too technical either politically or economically. Dr. Paul does a good job writing overall, but I did get slowed down a bit since he doesn't seem to elaborate too much on quotes from past figures, and had to go back to read the page again.

Strongly recommend this to all those interest in social science, philosophy, politics, history, and FREEDOM!

For those interested in libertarian politics or were impressed with what Ron Paul had to say during the 2008 GOP debates, this book gives a principled defense of freedom, peace, and sound money. Though short in length, Ron Paul provides plenty of food for thought on issues including non-interventionalist foreign policy, the true meaning of the Constitution, how economic freedom and personal freedom are related, why personal income taxes are unnecessary, and why inflation benefits the government at the expense of ordinary Americans.

Ron Paul is on the right track with his thoughts and ideas. It's high time people recognized what a travesty the political arena has become. It's not an election anymore, it's a selection.
And the majority of people are not the ones making the choice. Wake up America, before it's really too late.

Never have I read a book so fast in my life, I'm 17 and thought this book was very well written, and easily understood. I highly recommend it.

Ron Paul knows the Constitution and tells us in "The Revolution: A Manifesto" exactly how the current government is contradicting the founding document of America. Paul goes over numerous vital examples of how the federal government is overstepping its duty and in fact committing crimes against Americans by failing to stick to what the founders intended for the institution. The ideas described in this book must proliferate if we're to hang on to the fraction of liberty we have left.

First up is the controversial war in Iraq, which has cost us thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars a day. Paul has rejected the war from the start and now wants to see an end to the imperialism that creates such wars. In "Revolution", Paul consistently goes back to the founders to show that they never intended the federal government to be the world's policemen.

Next is the welfare state. Paul shows convincingly the paradox of government programs that gets more money for failing to do what they were designed to do. Freedom from regulation and the nanny state has helped reduce poverty in India and China since the '70s but the US poverty rate has stagnated since the 'War on Poverty' was declared in 1968 with a slew of government welfare programs, Paul reports.

Paul then goes over other ways the federal government harms its constituents as in the drug war, the Patriot Act, and much more important, the Fed's tinkering with the economy through inflation and debt. Much of this information is already clearly elucidated in the popular media, but it seems most people have just thrown their hands up and accepted it as the way things are. Ron Paul intends to shake up the status quo and wake people up to the issues we confront with a leviathan that will continue to erode the rock of freedom on which it stands. Paul intends to make popular once again the idea of liberty before it's too late. His message is clear: stop regulating us; stop spying on us; and stop taking our money!

Though the book isn't expertly written or especially thorough, every American should read it and contemplate the core ideas. We could be on the brink of a monumental shift toward greater liberty--"The Revolution" can be considered the catalyst.

JSBM
Author, How to Take Advantage of the People Who Are Trying to Take Advantage of You

I bought this book for one of my children for a summer reading project. I needed a specific version and was glad I could search Amazon by ISBN. The book arrived quickly and the price was reasonable. I'm sure other family members will enjoy the book when the projcet is complete.

except for the Bible, this is the best.
It is the full and undiluted version from the first english translation.
read it, learn it,live it.
j

Although the story is well known to me, the editing of this audio book was so confusing. I absolutely could not follow it. Too much is cut out.

Story has good twists, but there are too many French places and people which makes the audio confusing.

The book is excelent reading but please get a different version.
This version only has 580 or so pages where as other versions have over 1,300 pages. That means that this version is only half the story.
So much gets lost in translation already don't cheat yourself even more.

I need the book-equivalent of methadone to wean myself off the the genius that is Lonesome Dove.

This is one of my top three books of all time. The characters are well written, the story is exciting, sad, happy, scary and tender. It's a story about friendship, hardship, making a living, and a great history of what the West once was. I read this book at least twice a year, and still, it effects me the same way it did when I read it for the first time 15 years ago. I recommend it to anyone who likes a sweeping story full of great characters and emotion. It is also part of a great series of books. If you like this one, be sure to check out the others in this series.

I originally saw the movie "Lonesome Dove" which intrigued me and interested me in the book. I loved the book! It had even more info then the movie (as is generally the case) and though the 8 hours of movie are very true to the book, there is a lot that you miss until you see it in print.

I disagree strongly with the reviewers who say this is not a western. It is a story rich with action and human interactions. The characters are developed and become so real - I cried along with their triumphs and tragedies. There are many stories in this one book. Each character has a history and story to tell and McMurtry does this very well in "Lonesome Dove". (Not so much in other books - In "Sin Killer" he creates characters barely enough to kill them off two pages later.)

This is definitely a rich story well worth your time. It is a heavy read - literally and figuratively. Enjoy!

Count me among the many people who completely loved this book. Even at nearly 1,000 pages, I didn't want it to end. To say it's about a bunch of cattlemen making a drive from the Texas-Mexico border all the way up into Montana hardly makes it sound exciting. To say it's a romance between a cowboy and a reformed whore makes it sound more melodramatic than it is. But to say it's about the American spirit in the 19th century, or pointless ambition, or blind allegiance to an outdated code, or aging heroes, or the disappearing wilderness--and it's about all of those things--makes it sound too grand and high-minded. The charm of McMurtry's writing lies in its simplicity. It's about a lot of things. Mostly cowboys.

The Old West, as portrayed by Hollywood and popular fiction is said to be in large part a myth. High-noon duals, standoffs between train robbers and sheriffs, and gunfights between cowboys and Indians are more legend than history. LONESOME DOVE has to be considered among the canon of the old west, as one of the archetypal books of the genre. It is a story full of stock western players--the heroic Texas rangers, the sheriff, the whore, the cattle rustlers, the Indians, the wide-eyed cow hand. But in the end, the characterization of these players flies in the face of everything we'd expect of them. They are each flawed in their own way, and none completely lives up to our expectations of what he should be. They're decidedly not stock characters. They're real. They surprise us at every turn with their actions and inactions. And while it's tempting to call this the quintessential western, it's more a deconstruction of the western. A reality check. It's more about romance than gun fights. The conflicts are internal. And it's more about character than characters. That's the greatest strength of LONESOME DOVE. McMurtry makes you fall in love with the cowboys, then breaks your heart twice--once at their fates, and once when the book comes to an end.

Taking it as a given that you have little or no interest in the old west or cowboys, in general, or in cattle drives, specifically, you should still read Lonesome Dove. The character development, of Gus and Call, especially, and the evoking of a time and place very remote from the present are absolutely remarkable and you'll be glad that you didn't miss it ... a very, very good book - truly excellent literature!

And, as in so many cases, in case you saw it and drew a conclusion ... the TV version couldn't begin to do justice to the book.

This book was truly life changing for me. When I find myself sweating the little things in life (i.e bills, pregnancy woes, hot weather)I remember Immaculee holed up in this tiny bathroom just praying and pleading for her life. She painted such a horrific picture I simply cannot forget. The killers were calling her name! What a humbling and amazing story she has to tell I literally could not put this book down..at the same time I was educated about how the Rwandan Holocaust all came to be..I had no idea what these poor people went through, the Hutus and the Tutsis became real to me. Who would have thought something like this still happens but this was just the 90's. In the beginning of her book, I smiled through tears as she described the tight knit Catholic family she was reared in--how strong and wise her daddy was, how much she loved her brothers with everything in her being, and how her mother was there until the end to protect her "babies". I was fortunate a few weeks after reading her book to see Immaculee speak at a local venue in Dallas. She was beautiful in person and her joy could light up an entire room. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and it was obvious how humbled she has been. I just kept thinking this woman has lost her entire extended family and she even had the grace to forgive those who killed her own. Forgiveness is the message I took from the book. Life is too short to carry the burden of not forgiving others who we think have wronged us. Excellent read with a message that will keep you thinking long after you read the book!!

I started reading this book before bed, big mistake on my part. I stayed up entranced by this book and continued reading until I couldn't stay awake. The first thing I did the next morning was pick this book back up and finished it. (Which only took a half hour)

I am absolutely amazed at Immaculee's ability to maintain her connection with God while surrounded by such hate. Immaculee shares her story of how she not only survived the Rwandan Holocaust, but how she forgave the killers of her family. This is an inspiring book which confirms how great humans really can be.

It was difficult for me to put the book down and I finished it quickly even though I had already seen the author interviewed on three different EWTN TV shows. What an inspiration to overcome evil with good! It reminded me of some of the miracle stories of prisoners of war in Vietnam. Her descriptions of the country and the events left me feeling like I had visited the country in person and gave me a much clearer understanding of the situation in Rwanda. Most important of all it is continuing to help me to forgive others (with God's help) in every circumstance.

Bobbie Lewis

This book was recommended by my doctor who is an avid reader. I was afraid to read it at first. I thought it might really make me sad because it is about the Rwandan Holocaust. It was totally amazing! The story is true and is one of the most inspiring I have ever encountered. Immaculee's faithfulness and her trust in God during the most painful of experiences gave my spiritual life a giant shot in the arm!
I could not put the book down-read it and grow in grace!

An amazing and harrowing tale of Faith, Hope and Forgiveness. A story of survival in the midst of unspeakable horror and acts of inhumanity beyond comprehension. I bought several copies to pass on. I would quantify this book as a must read.

I hope this is the right book, I just love the story, and the music, and the movie too!

The book is fantastic! Great pictures! I would highly recommend this book for any fan of the movie or a Titanic fan in general! The making of the epic movie is something to see and you can definitely see it in this book.

This is a MUST have for any Titanic collector. I waited for about 9 or so years for this book and I am so extatic that I finally have it!!

Great book for the titanic enthusiasts!!!!! If you loved the movie, you will enjoy this book.

The scope of this majestic book truly befits the epic effort by James Cameron with his cinematic masterpiece "Titanic". Much great information here for the movie buff who likes to see how it is done. Incredible sets including the dining salon, complete even to dishes and decor. I was amazed to see how this particular set was pulled underwater by hydraulics to provide a very realistic feeling of sinking. Page after page of photographs and stories about the magnificent sets that brought this film to life. Lots of info about the stars and other cast members as well the production crew. This book is a perfect companion to the movie as well as a testament to the filmmaking genius of James Cameron.

The book itself was a winner - a gift for my husband. He "devoured" it. The only disappointment was how cheaply and poorly-bound the paperback was. Even with extreme care, it fell apart within the first 70 pages. The replacement nearly made it to the end, but not quite. Buy and read this book, but go for a better-bound version unless you like handling it in pieces.

Author David McCullough gives us an in-depth look into the life of President Truman. He shows how he evolved from a simple farmer to become the President of the United States. McCullough pulls no punches in his biography, and yet, Mr. Truman comes through as a simple man who rose to the challenge of becoming a true statesman and world leader. A Very compelling read.

This is one of those rare biographies which pulls you in from the beginning and never lets go. It is an excellent look at one of the truly under-appreciated presidents. Truman was an amazing man and an incredible public servant. The sense of history that this biography brings makes it a must-read for anyone interested in American history and/or American politics.

An absolutely fantastic biography. McCullough not only gives us an incredibly in-depth account of Truman's role in such momentous events as the decision to drop the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Potsdam Conference (Truman's only face-to-face meeting with Stalin or Uncle Joe as he called him), the Truman Doctrine, The Marshall Plan, the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, the firing of General MacArthur and so on, but he also succeeds wonderfully in injecting joviality into this rather thick tome through his unsurpassed ability to recount the human side of Truman, the quirkiness, the common trials and errors of a human being and the like.

I am not an American, but I always tell my friends that if I were Truman would be my favorite president. This book only serves to reinforce my view. Overall, one of the best biographies I've read. If I ever became famous one day, I'd really love someone of McCullough's caliber to write my biography. Highly recommended.

I have read most of McCullough's books, and so I knew that after reading this I would understand Harry S. Truman more deeply than I ever had. What I didn't know what was that I would learn so much about 20th century American history. McCullough is a great story-teller. His use of historical details to recreate the man and the times is magnificent. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Simon Singh books usually hold you from the first page and till the end. "The code book" is very well written and very informative. You will see how it's started and where cryptography goes, but even more interesting part of history of cryptography - life (sometimes secret life) of people who worked and continue to work on development of cryptosystems.

Nutshell review - This is an excellent book covering the history of cryptography up to present day and into the near future. Very well written, easy to understand and worth reading by any layperson interested in the topic.

If you want to know about codes, secrets, cryptography and cryptanalysis then this is the book. Simon Singh presents the history of codes in a clear and simple way. Without the mathematics to disturb the flow of the story, you enjoy plots, conspiracies, secrets and algorithms. Excellent for general knowledge and for an introductory text in cryptanalysis. Buy it!

great book regarding the history of cryptography. The only way to truly understand anything is c the history of it's introduction

For a book on cryptology from a historical perspective it's really hard to believe it would be as entertaining as Singh makes it. Using his skill as an author he weaves history, technology, and methods of encryption together to explain topics that normally would leave many of us in the blind.

The most interesting thing about the whole book is that as you begin to read up on forms of encryption and decryption you begin to absorb yourself into the whole culture. One chapter describes the Beale Ciphers, a set of ciphers that gained popularity especially in the early 1900s and still are significant today linking to a fabulous treasure and yet still remaining unbroken. I remember spending the day after reading up on it thinking of ways I'd try to break the cipher. Not many books fill your mind with such rich images and excitement as this book seems to.

Generally, the book is wonderful and has enough to keep you hooked until the very end despite its historical nature.

I read this book many times when I was young and was thrilled to find it still in print. I would recommend this for anyone who loves romance novels with historical fact mixed in.

Thought this book was a very good read. I Love fiction with historical facts. Beautiful love story. The end got a little long so thats the only reason i didn't give it a 5.

This book is worth purchasing. Yet, somehow that's an understatement. I now have my own copy and am reluctant to lend it!

Several of my friends raved about this book. I liked it okay. And I love to read so much; I'm not that hard to please. There were several kind of raunchy parts that I didn't expect, as well as numerous bawdy references. But there is a theme of redemption in the end that I liked quite a lot that makes the story more...well, redeeming. The last 150 pages or so were the best, I think. It wasn't riveting for me, but the history was really interesting, and I learned a lot.

This is one of my very favorite books ever. In fact I've gone through 2 copies already I read it so often. I'll keep buying it because each time I read it I find it more fascinating. I would highly recommend this book.