Washington Books

This was an interesting book that covered the personal life of Katherine Graham in great detail. However, I really had a hard time finding much about her true leadership style other than perhaps two sentences in the entire book. The totality of her leadership style would have to be deduced through the anecdotal material presented in the book. If you want to really know who she was and what she did, this is the one book to read. Was she a tremendous individual who fought hard to keep and build a great organization? Yes. Is it worth the time to read it? Yes.

Why read this book? A convincing answer is provided by Jim Collins in the Foreword, and I quote: "If I were forced to pick one business leader from whom to draw professional learning and personal aspirations, that one leader would very likely be Katharine Graham." As is the case with other great leaders, Collins explains, she delivered great results during her tenure, achieved a distinctive impact on the world "by creating a a role model that others follow," presided over "a significant crisis or renewal, in part by creating a role model that others follow," and finally, she left a legacy that "transcends her own tenure, and ultimately beyond her life." High praise indeed and wholly justified by Graham's professional achievements and personal integrity.

What we have in this volume is Robin Gerber's probing, illuminating analysis of a woman who once observed that she led "what I thought of as two separate lives. Wife and mother for twenty-three years, and then working person for thirty." It is her career as CEO of the Washington Post Company which has attracted the most attention but only by understanding her as a daughter, wife, mother, and widow, however, can we possibly appreciate both her personal growth and professional achievements. Of course, in her own memoirs (Personal History and Katharine Graham's Washington) she shares much of the same material which Gerber covers also. Here are what I consider to be especially significant facts:

1. Until her husband, Philip, committed suicide, Graham had had almost no direct involvement in the business world.

2. Following his death, she refused to sell the company and became its CEO, relying heavily on the management team to face a series of crises.

3. First, whether or not to publish the Pentagon Papers and thereby risk prosecution under the Espionage Act, jeopardize the company's IPO, and perhaps its lucrative television licenses. She decided to publish.

4. Then, whether or not to support Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's investigation of the Watergate break-in and thereby incur the full wrath of the Nixon administration. She provided that support although, as she later admitted, "I was terrified" and "quaking in my boots."

Gerber skillfully examines each of these and other stressful situations and defining moments. Of greatest interest to me is Graham's gradual, sometimes painful acquisition of business acumen despite the shock and grief caused by her husband's death, especially at a time when the Post Company was going through its own serious difficulties. As countless others have already pointed out, Graham eventually developed outstanding leadership qualities and management skills without at any time compromising her personal decency and integrity. At the time of her death, those who knew her best loved her as much as they respected her.

If you share my high regard for Gerber's book, I urge you to read those which Graham wrote, "in her own words" and apparently without professional assistance. She was genuinely astonished by the fact that Personal History immediately became and then remained a bestseller. Few others were. Certainly no one among more than 4,000 who attended her funeral service on Monday, July 23, 2001, at Washington National Cathedral.

Robert McNamara served as a pallbearer with Vernon Jordan and her brother-in-law, Senator Robert Graham of Florida. Herbert Allen, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Mike Nichols, Jim Lehrer, Diane Sawyer, Barbara Walters, and Bob Woodward were among the ushers. Senators arrived in a bus as did hundreds of her associates at the Washington Post. In his eulogy, Ben Bradlee fondly referred to her as "Brenda Starr, girl reporter, [always] at the scene and ready to go." Probably better than anyone else did, Bradlee understood why having both "the heart of a journalist" and "the head of a businesswomen" made Katharine Graham "one of the greatest publishers of the last two centuries."

GOOD READING FOR ANY AGE. LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE

I adore this book! It even has color pages in the middle showing actual pics of White House Tours! It even has ACTUAL PICTURES OF THE
OVAL OFFICE!! I would die for my own copy of this! This book is awesome! If you've read this book, I love you!

The genius of Darius and Tabitha Kinsey becomes clear early on in this book. Mr. Kinsey roamed the Pacific Northwest, visiting logging camps and homesteads to photograph the people there. All photographs are make on glass plates ranging in size from 8"x10" to 20"X24". Plates were shipped back to Tabitha who would develop them and make prints which Darius would sell to the subjects. On one level, these are formal portraits of working men, women and their machines. And yet, the humanity of every subject somehow shines through. These are not faces staring into a camera lens. These are people caught in a moment, telling us of their lives from times long past. The photographs can stand alone or be viewed as a history of life in hard times

In this over size tome, Rodolfo Petschek & Dave Bohn have culled from Kinsey's 4,500 extant negatives, a magnificent collection of duotone photographs. Together with memorabilia of this loving working couple's marriage & contributions by their children this is one amazing family album! A must for anyone interested in early photography & pioneering the great Northwest. END

I really enjoyed reading this wonderful writing. Check it out

Every time I happen upon a magazine article written by Lyons I read it, no matter the subject. He is one of my favorite freelancer/contributers around. Always a keen, insightful and oftentimes happily cynical view on things. A writer I can trust, or buy a used car from. His writing in this book is just as good, and the subject - a single father, his daughter, the land the nurtures them both - is very relevant to me - also a father with young children to whom I hope to pass on a love of the land. Great job, Stephen!

I make no bones about it. I am an Legend of Sleepy Hollow fanatic. I have loved the story ever since growing up in that wonderful region along the Tappan Zee. Every Autumn, I look forward to reliving what WAshington Irving so lovingly captured. This production is simply a wonder to behold. It captures the flavor and feel of what Mr. Irving with our doubt meant to present. I was stunned to discover (to their credit) that this production remained very faithful to the book (something rarely done in this Hip Hop age). This is a great CD and I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy the acting and very powerful music score. Get a copy, you will be glad you did.

This is excellent...5 stars...It does not get any better than this! How is that for a simple review? Well, I love audio dramas, and have been listening to them almost exclusively now for over a decade. I also love the writing of Washington Irving..So I feel the need to let the world know that finally someone has done my boy Washington Irving justice with his superb "legend of Sleepy Hollow". Colonial Radio hit the ball out of the park when they recorded this gem. The acting is FANTASTIC! They all captured the essence of these wonderfully absurd characters...I loved Icabod, as I loved Brom Bones. The narration too was a joy to behold (as he let Washington's prose speak for itself, though it was certainly performed with flair and pinache, just as one would perform a one man show...no dull audio book drone here). The Musical score was inspired (Three cheers for Mr. Gage), and the surprise musical number was a joy. I used to read this classic every October, now I make it a point of catching this chestnut while it is airing on XM radio, or I just pop in my CD. Great job Colonial, this truly is as good as it gets!

Thoroughly researched, well-organized, easy to use. This book saved me money, time, and lots of stress for my two weeks in D.C. Great nightlife coverage -- they covered all the really great clubs, bars, and the arts sections was the best of any othe guidebook I looked at. I traveled around Virginia afterwards, and the daytrips section at the back of the book proved very thorough and helpful. Thanks, Let's Go.

In the hustle and bustle of the Washington D.C. streets one needs a companion to find one's way. This exceptionally edited book provides the necessary assistance for all the hot spots and historical points of interest in our nation's capitol. If achieving maximum efficiency with vacation time is a priority then this book is vital. This book is simply a god-send for anyone interested in the rich heritage and unceasing fun that Washington D.C. has to offer.

This is an exceptional book - very emotional and touching. In fact, I found it hard to get through more than a few pages with a dry eye. As one who is too young to remember the Vietnam era, this book helped me to better understand this part of our country's history. Highly recommended!

Wow! What a tribute! It's about time, we've heard too much about the guys who came back broken in body and spirit, addicted to drugs and despair.
BX*&#!!!
Mike Sofarelli, a Marine, came home missing part of his leg but he came back whole.
The proof of this is the wonderful book his son, Michael, has written as a tribute to him. The book is hopeful, heartbreaking and, at some points, wryly amusing.
It tells the story of how the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, The "Wall" went from being reviled when the design was unveiled to the most visited site in the National Parks system.
The true authors are the thousands of loved ones who left rememberances near the monument.
Buy the book, visit "The Wall" and thank a vet!

It's odd that many friends of mine that visit D.C., dont bother seeing this spectacular building. This book does a fine job, through vivid, crisp images and historical text, to impress upon the reader the importance of this famous structure, as a fine architectural set piece and as the nations library. I always love the story of how Jefferson sold his book collection to the library for a ridiculous sum, to settle his always present debts, it was hardly a philanthropic jesture, but then with Jefferson it was always about him anyway, great man in many ways, but deep down a cold narcassist..anyway, getting back to the building, its essentially a copy of the paris opera of Napoleon III's Second Empire, with some changes, but definitly the opera house was the inspiration for this building, Garnier's estate should have demanded royalties it was so close, at any rate, very good book on a most deserving subject, I really cant imagine anyone being disappointed in this book, if they have any interest at all in this building.

As the illustrator of the Jefferson building's overview for the book (pp.276-277), I had the rare privilege of walking through many of the areas of the Jefferson building not open to the public. Entering the Great Hall for the first time, I was caught off guard by its extraordinary beauty. Being a native Washingtonian, I was surprised that such a lavishly decorated structure existed here in Washington, D.C. The overall impression of the interior is more that of the Paris Opera House, than a government building. This beautiful book, with its many photographic details of the interior, allows the reader to recreate that sense of awe that I experienced walking through the entrance. With Anne Day's vivid photos, and the Libary's wonderful history, this book should be a welcome addition to anyone's personal library. Once you see the book, I suspect you may modify your itinerary for your next trip to Washington. This gem of a building is definitely worth a visit.

-Doug Stern

This book teaches the value of teamwork and the results that can come from it. Great for all kids, not just Husky fans.

A fun book to read to and with kids...especially if you want them to grow up to be a Husky fan!

Born in Washington, D.C., to one of the First Families of Virginia, Littleton Q. Washington attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, before securing a clerkship at the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1855, he joined the U.S. Customs House in San Francisco and became embroiled in that city's Vigilante Uprising. Dismissed from office during James Buchanan's administration, Washington made a wild and dangerous journey home across Mexico, which was then entering a bloody reform war.
An ardent secessionist, Washington secured a lieutenant's commission in the Confederate Army and served at First Bull Run. He briefly edited the Richmond Examiner before joining the Confederate State Department where he worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. He knew most of the C.S. government's top people and was a close friend of Mary Chesnut.
This journal is a fascinating character study of one man caught up in the most turbulent period of American history.

Littleton Washington's Journal is the assembled character study of Littleton Q. Washington, an ardent secessionist who served as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army at First Bull Run, and later worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. Though aptly edited by Douglas Gibboney for reader accessibility, and with informative historical notes, Littleton Washington's Journal is almost entirely Littleton's story in his own words. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs interested in seeing the Civil War from the perspective of one of its many soldiers.