United States Books

This is one of the all time great true crime books. If you like true crime, you must read this book.

I realize this is an odd heading for a review, but one of the very first things the author points out is that the crime was as incredibly stupid as it was brutal. I don't want to spoil the story too much, but added to a long list of very stupid mistakes made by the kidnappers was an apparent failure to understand how the telephone system in San Jose worked.

The author tries to explain this, but I supect that in this day and age when many people haven't even used a rotary dial phone, his explanation was inadequate. In 1933 the telephone system in San Jose was completely "manual." Telephones had no dials or buttons. When someone wanted to make a call, he or she simply picked up the receiver. This action caused a small light to go on over a jack in the switchboard, which was of course marked with the number of the calling party. The operator then plugged in one of a pair of cords from the shelf in front of her and asked "number, please?" The caller then spoke the wanted number to the operator who used the other plug to connect to the jack of the wanted number. She then had to press a small lever to ring the wanted party's bell. Consequently, tracing a call was ridiculously simple; all someone had to do was read the numbers next to the jacks in question on the face of the switchboard.

Of course all operators would have been alerted to signal the Chief Operator when anyone asked for the number of the Hart residence. The operator could also delay a few seconds before starting to ring the Hart's phone, giving the Chief Operator extra time to alert the law enforcement officers at the Hart residence that there was an incoming call.

All this resulted in Thrumond being arrested while using a pay phone to call the Hart residence. While San Jose city police were not involved in the arrest, it should be noted that he was using a telephone something like 150 feet from the main police station, not the wisest choice of locations.

This evidence would have been crucial if the case had come to trial and if Thurmond and Holmes had recanted their confessions, or if the confessions had been ruled inadmissible, which was possible even in 1933.

In other areas the author paints a vivid picture of the local political scene, and how "bosses" controlled much of city and county government. It's also interesting to note that much of the area around San Jose was rural at the time.

The brutality of the crime notwithstanding, I cannot in any way approve of the lynching, and I'm of the opinion that the governor should have been impeached for first failing to provide national guard troops to help defend the jail, and secondly for his outright approval of the lynchings and treat to pardon anyone convicted of taking part in them.

Prosecutors in three, if not four different jurisdictions were preparing charges against Holmes and Thurmond. There is simply no way they could have gone free if the first case against them for any reason had failed.

Swift Justice is more than a story about the murder of Brooke Hart, the son of a prominent San Jose businessman in 1933. It is about vigilante justice in its worst form--lynching.

Farrell starts the book off with Brooke Hart and the events that led up to his kidnapping and murder. He points out that most of his material was gathered from witnesses and/or people who wish to remain anonymous to this day. So, he cautions the reader about the accuracy of his story. The detail in which he describes the body and the lynching is gruesome. It works with the story, though, because I got the sense why the citizens of San Jose flew into a rage at those two men and the justice system. Brooke Hart and his family were revered by many, and in their eyes, what those two men did was unforgivable. The sheriff's department started receiving anonymous threats against those men and alerted the police chief. When the threats became more severe, he brought in more deputies to secure the area while the police chief did nothing. Then a small crowd gathered outside the station house. Slowly, it grew into a large mob. At eleven o'clock that night, they stormed the jail, dragged the men out of their cells, and hung them on two trees in St. James Park.

Farrell did an excellent job in depicting this scene. I felt like I was right there in the sheriff's office while he pleaded for those men to confess to their crime. I felt his desperation and terror of the crowd outside, and the adrenaline rush when he and his deputies fled for their own lives. He was a man on his own; however one firefighter helped another prisoner escape. Other than that, nobody helped them. Then there was the mob, itself. As I read those pages, I couldn't believe how good, decent citizens turned into bloodthirsty savages. But there they were, chanting and raving as the men were dragged out by their peers. The lynching was a spectator event, and everybody who knew or heard of the Harts attended with their babies and children. It was appalling and sickening. The authorities didn't arrive until it was time to gather the bodies and clean up the mess.

The St. James Lynching of 1933 was the last to occur here in San Jose. Since then, the penal system has made several improvements; however, the system leans more toward the civil rights of the criminals than to the victims. The pendulum always swings left and right, never landing in the middle. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in San Jose's history and/or the justice system. With all terrible tragedies, there is something to learn.

I'm not ashamed to stay I stayed up all night reading this book. I thought I'd read a few chapters before bed and...well, I just couldn't put it down. Brooke's murder is particularly brutal -- I could hear his final calls for help inside my head. The description of the lynching is so vivid you feel as if you're there, shouting and manning the battering ram with the rest of them. My only complaint was that the "after the lynching" section seemed to drag a bit. All in all a wonderful book, which I would highly recommend to any fan of true crime.

I must admit, I have a biased viewpoint. As a descendant of not one, not two, but three people who were summarily executed without the benefit of due process (one was most probably guilty --- the other two probably were not), accounts such as the San Jose Lynching tend to rub a raw nerve with me.

In a brisk, wonderfully written narrative, the author sets the stage and lets the events unfold to their unsettling conclusion. Along the way, he makes some interesting points about mob mentality, vigilante justice, and the abication of moral authority that our leaders on occasion display.

Most troubling for me are the points raised at the end of the book. The abrupt dispatch of the two murder suspects meant that other leads never were followed up on by the authorities. The author makes it clear that the two men were most certainly guilty --- they confessed to the crime, and the circumstantial evidence certainly pointed towards their guilt. However --- most troubling of all --- the circumstantial evidence also pointed quite strongly to additional men being involved in Brooke Hart's kidnapping & murder. Did other men get away with murder because the San Jose mob was too impatient to wait for a trial? The author does not beat us over the head with his theories, but he correctly points out that, because there never was a trial, a lot of questions that needed answering went unaddressed.

Certainly, it is a cautionary tale for those who believe that the justice system is too sluggish, and that we should just "line 'em up against the wall and shoot 'em." Maybe some time has been saved --- maybe justice has been served fully. But you can't confidently state it as fact.

I found this book very helpful. I could really relate to Judy's situation and saw many facets of my son's behavior in that of Sean's. It helped me to see that I am not the only one facing this same situation. Maybe my son will mature out of a lot of this too.

I read this book when my son was diagnosed with autism. The concept looked interesting and what I read opened up the world of autism to me. Sean gave me the idea that I had to get into my son's world and not make him come to mine! And 4 years later, my son is a very high functioning autistic child - it wouldn't have been possible without what I learned from this book!

This book is a must read for parents or relatives of Autistic children. I now understand why my 5 year old son does some of the things he does - it makes him feel good, and he does not understand why mom & dad say no. Sean tells you what went through his mind. Read this book, it will help you understand. Pray for a cure......

I absolutely LOVE this book!!! This is a very personable book that draws you into the Barron story as they share their family struggles and successes, hardships and joys. I love that Judy tells how she interpreted her son's behavior and how that is contrasted by Sean explaining what he was really thinking in his mind. The differences of thought show the confusion that easily happens between parent and child. Of course, each child is different but this does give excellent examples of the complexity of each personality within the autism spectrum. It is extremely important to communicate and try to understand what your child is thinking so that you can help him. It is equally important to be consistent to work through each issue. I love the honesty of Judy's frustration in the circumstance. And I love that Sean trusted his mom enough to share his life with the world. This book also proves the closeness between parent and child, even when their life is in upheaval. I have a nice collection of books on Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, OCD, OD, Asperger's, temperament problems, anger, and other such helps which were written by world-renown doctors and others but this simple book is, by far, the book I most relate to. Did I say that I love this book? It was the only book to give me hope. Whenever I felt I was going to give up, I'd think of this story. I credit this book for my son doing so well and being nearly normal so that people can't tell he is within the autistic/asperger's realm. :-)

Having reading essentially all memoirs of mothers with kids of the spectrum, I have to say this is the one that really "tells it like it is." Judy Barron pulls no punches on the difficulties of managing her son. Sean, her adult son, provides wonderful insight into what his often maddening behavior meant. Mother and son find tremendous respect for each other's strengths and weaknesses. Truly an inspiring book.

This is an excellent book. It is written in a very scholarly manner and exhausts the subject from a biblical standpoint, and tells the wonderful true story of an educated man being drawn into a new spiritual experience.

This is a book I can highly recommend. I believe that whatever your beliefs on the issue of tongues you owe it to yourself to read this book.

I have been a Christian since 1975, and was taught against tongues in the first couple years of my Christian walk. I was well versed in, why tongues was not for today.

Then in 1977 through a chain of events I ended up going to an Assembly of God Church. I was somewhat cautious of them as I knew they were of the Pentecostal persuasion. But from the very first service I attended I noticed an excitement in worship and over God's word (Bible) from the pastor and the members, that I had not seen in the other churches I attended. I really liked the church, the people, and the powerful preaching from the Bible, but, I still didn't agree with this "tongues" thing.

Anyway, one Sunday evening before service, in August 1977, I went to the church altar alone and was on my knees in prayer, looking at the cross and thanking Jesus for dying for me. Then I asked the LORD to fill me 100% with His Holy Spirit (with or without tongues). So there alone at that altar I lifted that prayer up to God. Just me and Jesus at that altar. There was no expectation from me of speaking in tongues. I was NOT seeking tongues, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Almost immediately from the time I lifted that prayer to the LORD, to my surprise, I instantly started praying in tongues. As I did, I felt a release in my worship to the LORD and also such a fresh appreciation for the Cross (that Jesus would die for me). A river of tears of joy flowed from my eyes.

That being said, I believe from that day I had a fresh desire to see others come to Christ and to grow in their Christian walk.

So, do yourself a favor, and read this book. I believe God can use it to touch your life. It is well written, it shows the authors own battles with the "tongues issue" and gives a good scriptural basis for "speaking in tongues".

... and it changed my life. I'm now 48 and still Pentecostal. I recommend this book at anyone seeking for a faith that is more than just "believe it or else." This book showed me that there is power in true Christianity.

This book totally caught me off guard. It examines the gift of speaking in tongues from the authors perspective and does an excellent job of convincing me that this gift is still being used in some areas that way God intended. Very well put together and compelling.

I first read "They Speak with Other Tongues" as a very young pastor, more than forty years ago. At the time I already believed in and practiced the gift of speaking in tongues. Still, I found this book to be a tremendous confirmation to my faith. It was especially interesting to me because the author was a non-Pentecostal and at that time the vast majority of people who spoke in tongues belonged to Classical Pentecostal churches. The Charismatic movement among mainline Protestant and Catholic churches was barely in its infancy. No doubt, this book served as a catalyst to arouse interest among non-Pentecostals in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and thus helped birth the Charismatic renewal. Today, more than half of the Christians who speak with other tongues belong to non-Pentecostal churches.

I have read "They Speak with Other Tongues" several times over the years; on each of those occasions it has been a continuing inspiration. I've also bought many extra copies to share with friends.

Anyone who wants to learn more about the experience of speaking in tongues will find much of interest here. The author presents his story in an honest manner which is both unassuming and convincing. Those who speak in other tongues and those who are only curious about the practice will both benefit from reading this classic. Although dozens of books on the same subject have been written since this one, I know of none that have had as great an impact.

J. Stephen Conn, Author: "Growing up Pentecostal"

I grew up in Idaho, and in school there we learned a slightly different version... I found it in a Google search for Lyrics and it said that the verse we sung as the second verse was found in the Canadian version:
"I followed your low hills
And I followed your cliff rims,
Your marble canyons
And sunny bright waters.
As the fog was lifting,
A voice was saying
This land was made for you and me."

Only we sang it as:
" I travelled low hills
I travelled cliff rims,
Great marble canyons,
and sunny waters,
A voice came calling,
as the fog was lifting,
This land was made for you and me.

In the first verse we had a difference also... instead of "from California to New York Island" it was " from California to the Bedloe's Island. Later I thought I must have heard wrong because I never saw that in print and wondered WHAT was Bedloe's Island. Yesterday I saw on History Channel that Bedloe's Island was the name of Liberty Island at the time that the Statue of Liberty was built there, and it wasn't until years later that it was changed to Liberty Island. It makes me wonder, was Bedloe's Island in the original verse or did Woody Guthrie write it as New York Island ... which really doesn't make sence because there was Ellis Island, Bedloe's Island, Manhattan, Staten and Long Island, more than three dozen islands... so if the song said "from California to THE NEW YORK ISLAND" not islands, then WHICH island??? Ok, while writing this I found the words from the original manuscript, it was Staten Island. All I know is we learned to sing about the Bedloe's Island. Oh yeah, I'm 51, born in 1956 which was the year that the name Bedloe's was officially changed to Liberty Island. Woody Guthrie wrote his song in 1940 but the first known professionally printed publication was in 1956 by Ludlow Music. By then it was THE NEW YORK ISLAND. Maybe the people from New York knew which one he meant.

into the little sayings and tidbits of trivia littered throughout. Still, nice art (a little busy at times) and a quick read with sheet music and bio at the end.

I gave this book and the Woody Guthrie CD to a friend who had just become an American citizen. She was thrilled with the lyrics and the photos about her new country. I think they do a good job of telling America's story.

My kids LOVE this book! And the CD is one of the best I've heard for kids. My two (ages 4 & 7) are singing the songs, especially the title song (w/all its verses) constantly. The illustrations in this book are also amazing. This book would make a really nice gift.

The art in this book is phenomenal and draw young and old into the book. I think that every time one looks at any of the paintings one will find something new to see. The lyrics, of course, are pure poetry. I am pleased that the original verses are restored. The only thing I did not like was that the song of This Land is Your Land does not match the order the lyrics are written in the book, so you can't enjoy both at the same time. However, it is not important enough to make me give this book a lower rating. The other songs included on the CD are also masterful and are extremely popular at the preschool I work in.

My son gave me this book as a gift and once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. It is a wonderful story of a young girl who marries and moves to a mining town in Colorado with her mining engineer husband in the early 1900s. As you turn the pages, you live day by day with Harriet and can actually experience the hardships of living in such remote areas.

It is one of the best written books I have ever read and I recommend it to everyone.
Brenda Ritter

Fantastic book. Well written with humor and sorrow. I picked this book up on a whim at a $1 book sale. Best dollar I have ever spent. I couldn't put this book down. Really a great read for anyone interested in mining life esp. what it was like from a womans point of view.

I really enjoyed this book about a family in old mining towns. I was surprised that it was a mine that was named Tomboy instead of a boyish bride. I love historical books and this one was very descriptive.

This is a wonderful autobiography written about a young woman's life in the high altitude of Telluride and Leadville CO, around the turn of the century in the early 1900's. Nothing in her former life prepared her for the 'adventures' of being a bride in the harsh realities of a mining camp.
However, she was a real trooper and made a happy life for herself,her husband and child. This is a real winner of a story.

I visited Telluride and purchased this book while there. I read it, loaned it to several friends and they read it and loved it. My daughter loved it so much she didn't return it, so I purchased a second book. The author has a knack for writing and has led an extremely interesting life. At first I thought I enjoyed the book because I had visited a lot of the places that she talked about, but later found that people who had never been to CO enjoyed the book as much as I did.

This is a GREAT book! I highly recommend it if you are planning a trip to Alaska. It is VERY informative and VERY detailed. I enjoyed it immensely and I know I will take it with me when I visit Alaska next year! Thanks to the authors for such a great book!

This is great for the RV's not so good for tent campers and Motorcycle Adventure tourers.

Since we will be camping most of the time while in Alaska, this book is a great guide.

This guide is a little dated (3rd edition - 2005), but it's not hard to cross reference the campgrounds in this guide with a more recent (Trailer Life) guide, so that's not a major problem. The campground descriptions are spot on, but the feature we relied on most was the "Big Rigs" symbol. We pull a 32' 5th wheel, so we're not really huge, but knowing you can maneuver before you enter a campground is worth it's weight in Alaska gold.

This is a detailed and very useful and essential book to help making a motorhome trip to Alaska via the Alcan highway a pleasant experience. I think it is an easier guide to use for planning your trip than the Milepost.

Okay,This is this best book I have EVER read! I could relate so well to this book because I grew up poor myself.My mom and I actually had to sleep in a car because we had no where to go.I read this book a few years ago and I still think of this book all the time.I had to struggle with buying it because when you grow up poor,you cant fathom spending money on something like a book.I may be 33 yrs old now and not the poor teenager I once was but my poor conscience kept telling me "25.00$ for a book? you could buy 3 days of food for that" Well the adult me won out in the end and it was the best 25.00$ I ever spent on myself.I would rush through my job just to get home a little earlier,to have more time to read this wonderful book.I cant recommend it enough.I cannot wait for more books by this talented storyteller and author,hopefully I wont have to wait for long!

I was so very moved by this book. I am an avid reader and I found myself right smack dab in the middle of this story, from beginning to end. Rarely have I felt as I was actually experiencing this young girl's struggle with life, as I did in this book!
Sometimes when I read a book, I know that I will immediately reread it. That is this book. I am delighted to hear that Sandra wrote another book and I will purchase that also. Sandra has a real gift and has portrayed the story of her life with utter clarity and simple and moving honesty.

This book moved me to tears and I highly recommend it to everyone and anyone.

From the time I started this book, I could not put it down. I usually have several books going at the same time but I read this start to finish uninterrupted. What a wonderfully personal story of a girl growing up in America. For me, it elicited the full spectrum of emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

When the smiling younger woman in my porcelain doll making class answered my question, "I'm a writer," I already wanted to read whatever she had written. I was not disappointed. The third doll-maker was Sandy's mom who figures strongly in the book. The family dysfunction painted in the book is familiar, although it will enlighten anyone who still isn't clear on codependency and what children do to be perfect and thereby smooth out family trouble. I wanted to lay the book down when it seemed they had to move yet again, or when the father was particularly cruel. I wondered how on earth the mom kept them all in clean clothes or fed, considering the dramatic ups and downs. The papa was a seeker of instant riches, pie in the sky schemes. Evidently he was also a charmer. Mom and kids followed. At one point they drive off into the sunset to pursue an unlikely plan; hours later they have returned to the home they had abandoned, finding the dog hungry and watching for them. Sandy interweaves great beauty with the difficult passages. She paints the natural scenery, idyllic summer afternoons, love among siblings and mom -- and even the dad at times. They were dreaming such elegant dreams and a few mistakes pushed them into humiliating squalor more than once. There's a hilarious passage involving a snake that the editors wanted cut from the book. I was very glad for the laugh. This isn't just a "how I found my lost sister" story; it's a pithy growing up story about a girl who had stars in her eyes -- and still does. The other reviewers have said it for me, but I wanted to add 5 more stars and say I look forward to whatever this talented writer does next.

Leigh's book is simply put, a long vibrant poem. She brings the hills of West Virginia and the housing of Northern California to life in a way that puts the smells in your nostrils and an empathy for the people in your hear. The characters she creates sourround you and for a moment become your family. I say creates because, though they are born out of reality, Leigh breathes new life into the ghosts of the past allowing all of us a glimpse into her unusually large heart.

She writes in the present, a task that many authors attempt but few succeed, which draws the reader into the story and makes them grow with Sandra and her siblings. Her diction is astounding as she recreates the voice of a young girl. In fact, her words grow with the character and by the time Sandra is a teenager, Leigh no longer uses heck and darn but hell and damn.

One truly astounding realization is that this book is for all people. It is not the cryings of one person for their hard life but a look into human nature and the awsome power that is born out of adversity. We all have ghosts in our past, this book allows us to look back with a fresh perspective and see our own lives for what they are.

An excellent resource for the Baseball fan, who is always looking for good books about the Legends of baseball.

This book was very interesting and informative and obviously well researched since the author is a baseball historian. It makes you feel as if you know the players and are living in their time period but it isn't the most enjoyable book I've ever read. You rarely smile or laugh, there's very little that's amusing even though these are two very colorfull and bigger than life characters so I felt the book could have been a little lighter. Also check out two of my favorites - The Teammates by David Halberstam and When Life Was Baseball Teams and Egg Creams by Craig Howard, the last one being much lighter and more about life in the time period than baseball itself. Good nostalgia though.

Mr. Stanton's Ty and the Babe is well researched and a great read for any baseball fan interested in two of the sport's iconic figures. Of course I knew of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth before reading this book, but I didn't know too much about their background and playing days. Not only did I learn about Ty and Babe, I also became more familiar with the long ball era and how baseball changed during these years that the two historic figures competed.

Kevin Grammens

This is a strange little book. For one thing, it presents a far more positive picture of Ty Cobb than one often encounters. Second, golf becomes a key part of the relationship between two bitter antagonists--Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.

Ty Cobb was an exemplar of the old fashioned "scientific" approach to baseball, bunts, stolen bases, sacrifices, etc. Babe Ruth was a harbinger of a new era--focusing on the home run.

Cobb versus Ruth, while they were in the major leagues together, had a pretty negative relationship. Cobb had little respect for Ruth; Ruth despised Cobb.

The book tells of their slowly evolving relationship, to the point where they expressed respect toward one another by the end of Cobb's career.

Their rivalry took a turn after their respective retirements. Both became avid golfers. They took part in a series of golf matches, where there was much greater camaraderie than when they played baseball.

The book chronicles that strange evolution in their relationship.

There is a nice appendix, which chronicles those games in which they opposed one another. Interesting. . . .

An offbeat little book that ends up humanizing Cobb.

I have now read all of Tom Stanton's books, and I have enjoyed them all. I am one of many that had certain perceptions of Ty Cobb's character based on stereoptypical opinion of Cobb in recent years. But Stanton sets the record straight in allowing us to get to know a different Ty Cobb; one who is a great competitor, but no where near the "evil" man that he has been portrayed as. The Babe is as fun loving as ever in this book and it is a fun read. I would recommend it to baseball fans, and golf fans too!

Just like an accident, if you don't know the risk, you are bound to get hurt. This book tells everyone about the risks, either past or present, in vaccines. These blunders have not been dealt with by government or industry due to the economic impact that any correction might have. They (government and industry) want to scare you into vaccinating for everything because if you don't you'll get sick. Everybody please panic, so that the vaccine producers make plenty of money. Why is it that if Polio has been eradicated in the US are there still polio cases among those who have been vaccinated. How can a monkey kidney virus cause cancer in humans and why was such a dirty animal's kidney chosen as a substrate for vaccine production.
This is a must read for anybody who thinks that vaccine production and development is as sound and safe as the interpretation of the bible by religious zealot. If you are going to invest your faith in anything, invest it in yourself and read this book. If not, wait for the movie . . . because it reads like a medical industrial espionage thriller.

If you enjoyed reading this book, I suggest you also read The River, by Edward Hooper. Hoopers book posits a similar Frankensteinesque consequence of the race for a polio vaccine: the emergence of HIV in central Africa resulting from a batch of experimental polio vaccine, created in Zaire, using infected monkey kidneys.

This book shows just how much the corporations and even our own government do not care about you or me, they care about continuing their domination of our lives and making money.

I've likely had the polio shot that is described in this book, and you probably have too, it was around for four DECADES.

My mother fell into the years where the first horrible joke of a vaccine was first introduced in the United States by Jonas Salk, and she died from ALS in 1995. Maybe there is no connection, Lord knows there are other toxins in our world that could have been responsible, but was it their right to continue to vaccinate us with trash viruses from monkey kidneys? Is this the US or Hitler's Germany?

This book is meticulously researched and written. It's the one book I've run across on vaccines that none of the "pro-vaccine" people I've talked to have been able to debunk.

If you haven't already read this book, do so. It's scary, but I would rather know than not know.

And these are some of the same type of corporations currently pushing for legislation for the HPV vaccine to be mandatory - I don't trust them, do you?

Someone remarked in a previous review that this was a horrible mistake -- no, it wasn't. A mistake is when you shut your finger in the door and then realize how and why you did it, so that it doesn't happen again. This was calculated crime, in my opinion, by the "powers that are" on millions of Americans. They knew it was there [SV40] and they made choices to leave it there. What other viruses are in there that no one has found, or even bothered to look for?

The other reviews have more than expressed the high level of journalism these authors have attained. Suffice it to say they should be inundated with movie offers by now. This is indeed the most compelling read in a very long time.
It is appalling to know just how reckless (and criminal) the vaccine programs really are and how deep the disregard for the public health. I promptly sent "Virus and the Vaccine" to a friend who is a top cancer specialist, to get an outside opinion. He too was blown away, horrified and found the book a powerful read. If your here and wondering if you should get this book..YES READ THIS BOOK. You will not regret it.
It is my opinion that the authors have done a great service to this country (and humanity) by dedicating their talents and time to uncovering this outrageous tale of woe. A Nobel Prize might just be in order! I am buying this book in lots, and sending copies to the most influential people I know (and my family). Bravo! S.A. Sarnoff, Founder & Pres. Health Advocacy in the Public Interest, Santa Barbara CA

This book is a frightening expose of the potential damage done to millions of unsuspecting Americans who were receiptents of polio vaccines that may have been carelessly contaminated with monkey virus that somehow eluded the best intended manufacturing processes of that day.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning for themselves whether vaccines may have caused more harm than good over decades of use. Let us hope the authors are wrong, because if they are right, the harm done will be uncomprehensible.

I purchased Lou's book after I had found his website when I was planning my latest trip to Walt Disney World. After looking at his site and even signing up for the forum, I knew I had to purchase this book I'd been reading about! And I am so glad I did. The trivia is fun if you're reading alone or if you take turns reading with a partner and it's multiple choice too. Even more, the answers are found following each section with a short statement to provide further information about the correct answer. What I really love about this book is that the layout makes it a simplistic read that doesn't get boring. Even though it isn't a guide book, anyone (or any family) planning to take a trip to WDW can benefit from the exciting learning experience the book has to offer. It is a must read for first timers and fanatics!

Fantastic book! What you may have thought you knew...but didn't! An interesting book of facts that help you understand the making of Walt Disney World. A must have book for Disney mania! Volume 1 is just as interesting!

Just received the Walt Disney Trivia Books, Volumes 1 & 2. I've read through both and cannot wait until my next WDW vacation. Thank you, Lou, for writing the best Disney trivia books ever. Just one question, when will there be a third?

My son and I love this book and we've only read the first section. We can't believe how much we're learning and how much we didn't know. We're enjoying finding out all the "little" things we never knew about Disney World.

The Walt Disney World Trivia Book is like the friend I've always wanted who flies me down to Disney (for free!)and proceeds to take me through every park, attraction, and resort, telling me things I never knew about my favorite place. With a loyalty only a true Disney connoisseur can possess ("ever hear of some guy named 'Bugs Bunny'? Hmph. Me neither."), Lou presents his information the way I like it-it's personal, frank, and fun. Kind of like Lou himself...drop him an e-mail, and you actually get an answer! If there is one Disney informant to swear by, it's Lou Mongello. Some of his facts I knew, some made me laugh, and some made me realize that perhaps I'm not the Disney expert I make myself out to be. All I know is that those around me will have to endure new rounds of Disney fact-spouting. I almost feel bad for them. They had assumed they were safe after our (sniff!) last Disney trip in 2005. Although I shouldn't really mourn the trip's passing; with the WDW Trivia Book, I'm there all over again.