Agnew Books

Good primer on Italian football. The chapters on Maradona and the author's life in a small village outside of Rome are fascinating.

The author is at his best when he follows the career of a goalkeeper who played exactly 7 minutes in Serie A (the top league in Italian football) after toiling in the lower leagues for years. As the author points out, everyone wants to interview the Zidanes of the world but no one cares about interviewing the backup goalkeeper. However, the reality is that most of the players who play professionally are not the glamorous stars. Bravo to the author for telling us about the life of one of the pedestrian players.

The book spends a substantial amount of time detailing the corruption in Italian Football (although the book was published before the latest scandal involving referee fixing by Juventus and several other big clubs; the author does indicate that referee fixing was rumored). The picture he paints isn't pretty. However, the last few chapters on corruption feel a little tacked on - as if an editor told the author he needed to detail the corruption to make the book complete. Despite this flaw, the book is worth the read if you want a good first book on Italian football.

Outside of western Pennsylvania, the name Henry Clay Frick isn't generally known. Schreiner's book helps to explain why he was a key figure in America's Industrial Revolution.

This is the first Frick biography compiled after his daughter Helen died, so it wasn't beset by her censorship. Still, perhaps because the author is a former Reader's Digest editor, plenty is missing from it. Frick's youth is almost ignored; more is written about one brother each of Andrew Carnegie and Andrew Mellon than about all of Frick's siblings combined. Coxey's Army is covered, but the Johnstown Flood (don't spit!), some 70 miles upriver from Pittsburgh and about 20 miles closer to Frick's coke headquarters, isn't. A few small towns mentioned are no longer on the map. The author may consider directions gratuitous to those like him who hail from Pittsburgh, but placement near another settlement, the name of the larger city that absorbed the village, or the intersection closest to the ghost town's remains would help inform the rest of us. Complicated financial transactions are discussed without being adequately explained. The book contains an extensive bibliography, but since there are no notes, uncited quotes retain their anonymity. The author vividly describes Pittsburgh's air pollution during its steel heyday without exploring how it affected the average lifespan (Frick lived to 69, but he left Pittsburgh about 15 years before he died, and was often away on business before then).

The result is a book that, while competently written, sometimes reads as if it was rushed to market.

Frick began his rise to wealth by descending heavily into debt. Whether Frick invented the company town isn't revealed, but his was established during the 1870s, starting with a company store that accepted company scrip in lieu of cash. Rent and debts were deducted from wages.

Frick's monopolization of the coke business is documented, as is his role as Carnegie's hatchet man during the Homestead strike, Frick's eventual fallout with Carnegie, the formation of U. S. Steel, and Frick's status as financial expert. While his predictions weren't always accurate, Frick did help to defuse the economic panic of 1907, which could have become a depression if left unchecked.

The Thorstein Veblen quotes remind me of H. L. Mencken's devastating analysis of Veblen's writings in Prejudices: First Series (also in Chrestomathy, The American Scene and A Study of His Thought), which remains one of my favorite Mencken essays. Take the time to read it if you ever happen upon praise of Veblen (such as in this book).

The author is politically biased - he claimed that Wilson went into World War I against his will, when Wilson manipulated the populace and government into the war after campaigning against entry. Schreiner reports Republican corruption while ignoring the WWI supplier scandals and the subsequent Palmer raids. He also favored U. S. entry into the League of Nations.

Some minor errors are included. "Several of the Republican occupants of the White House squeezed through the door with less than a plurality of the popular vote" - "Several" is a stretch. Hayes and Harrison II make two; Bush II didn't steal the election until after this book was published. During the 1890s, the trickle-down economic theory "wouldn't find a proper name for more than a century". "Almost a century" would have worked; "trickle-down" entered the lexicon during the 1980s. Excepting daughter Helen, the author insists, "Other Frick descendents have kept a remarkably low profile." He overlooked J. Fife Symington III, who became Arizona's governor in 1991 (and resigned in 1997 upon federal conviction of bank and wire fraud - he was pardoned by Bill Clinton in 2001).

If you only know of Frick from his art collection or the deadly Homestead strike, this book is an informative introduction, but those who wish to fully investigate the man and his era shouldn't stop here.

Tara Crayton has worked hard to regain her sense of self after surviving an abusive marriage. Her co-workers in the secretarial pool at Douglas Financial Services know very little about Tara outside the office. Her crazy and abusive ex-husband has just been released from prison, she is a clandestine psychic, and to top it off, she has a dream lover. Her dream lover reawakens wary Tara's desire for a romantic relationship.

Marcus Hyatt also works in the secretarial pool. His co-workers, Tara included, think he is deadly dull. They are only half right. He is deadly. Marcus is an undercover operative for the Special Investigations Agency. Marcus hopes to secretly use his psychic ability to uncover a deadly evil within Douglas Financial Services. Distracting Marcus from his mission is his interest in Tara and his dreams. Dreams that are filled with a woman's erotic touch, bringing him ecstasy, and filling him with a longing for more.

When Tara turns to Marcus for protection from her threatening ex-husband, he knows he must help her. Keeping his mission and psychic ability a secret is imperative, for it would only bring danger to Tara. Can he protect her from danger at work and at home?

I found Sins and Secrets a difficult book to read. It is supposed to be an
erotic paranormal, and it is. It's also a thriller. It is this aspect of the book that sticks with me. I loved the paranormal flavor of the book, even the danger of the unknown evil. The erotica was very well-written and sensual. However, when combined with the added danger of the abusive, religious fanatic, psychotic, murderous ex-husband, I couldn't immerse myself in the story. In fact, I was so disturbed by the crazy ex-husband that I couldn't findany joy in the romance. Ms. Agnew is an excellent author, and lovers of crime novels will enjoy Sins and Secrets, but I wanted more romance. In this, it did not satisfy.

Annabelle
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Written in 1972, "Spiro Agnew's America" is a real time, journalistic study of this colorful, controversial and, for the young, largely unknown vice-president. Its theme is that Spiro Agnew was the first suburban politician to rise to national leadership.

The book begins with a rather superficial rendition of Agnew's early life and legal career. My father identified with Agnew who was, like him, a World War II veteran of the Third Army and who began his legal career at about the same time. As I read that portion of this book I could understand Dad's feelings.

This book portrays an Agnew unknown to may. To most who remember him only from his vice-presidential days, Agnew is remembered, both by those who loved him and those who hated him, as a hard core conservative. Author Theo Lippman, Jr. shows that such was not always the case. During his career in Maryland politics, Agnew ran as the moderate, or even liberal candidate, against fractured Democratic parties. In his 1966 race for governor, Agnew took many Democratic endorsements and votes from George Mahoney, a conservative and, arguably, a racist Democrat.

In the national arena, the early Agnew staked out his position in the liberal wing of the Republican Party, opposing Barry Goldwater in 1964 and being a supporter of Nelson Rockefeller then and early in the 1968 campaign. Only after feeling betrayed by Rockefeller, did he switch to Nixon, to whom he became a valuable liaison to the governors and the liberal wing of the party.

This book relates Agnew's selection for vice-president as not a hasty decision made after the presidential nomination was won, but as a reflection of Nixon's respect for Agnew. Lippman suggests that Nixon was leaning toward Agnew long before the convention.

In the '68 campaign Agnew drew unwanted attention by comments about not seeing "a Pollock" in the crowd, about a "Fat Jap" on the campaign plane and that "if you`ve see one slum you've seen them all." Despite these slips, Agnew remained an asset with some portions of the electorate.

Agnew's contributions to the formulation of Nixon Administration policies and his support for the policies once they were adopted are documented. His role as an International Goodwill Ambassador is covered.

The advantage and weakness of this book is that it was written before Agnew's re-nomination, reelection and criminal investigations into his actions occurred. This is a weakness because it does not tell the whole story, excluding what many consider to be the big story. The strength is that it gives the reader a view of Spiro Agnew before his name was linked with corruption and while he was a serious presidential contender. I believe that Lippman provides a balanced view of Agnew, neither covering up his weaknesses nor focusing on his faults. I am sure that there are newer, more complete biographies of Spiro Agnew, but for those wanting to remember, or learn for the first time, how Spiro Agnew was viewed in his day, "Spiro Agnew's America" is a good place to start.

So here's the guy who talked while Baltimore rioted. As they say "it is to laugh". This first true prince of the suburbs verbally stuck it to those who misbehaved and mightily impressed, stunned even, the future fallen king, Richard Milhous Nixon. "Your governor, uh ah, he has a LOT to say ..." So he became the Dark Man's foil, but didn't make it to the great tragic catastrophe.
This tome is his apologia pro nihil suo. If you were alive and listening, and not TOO dazzled by Posturin' & Jabberin' Jorge Wallis (as many right-thinkin' Marylanders were, having learned nothing from their own HL Mencken) then you'll have the TRUE text always in your mind, disconnectedly and uproariously raging along beside this great man's stately screed. Imagine George W Bush with some imagination, some teenagerish wit, some articulation, but lacking the ability and willingness to read the demographics of an area (or have someone else read it to him, as Little Bush would) before he shot his mouth off, and you'll have this now extremely historical figure.
What a one for shouting about "politicians talk but if you elect me I'll DO something". This guy is the original "doodling dastard of donothingism".

The sequel, unlike the original, wallows in relative morality. The narratives are standard anti-US screed, to the point where America is seen as the imperialist against the rest of the world by 2010.

This viewpoint also warps the view of the Alphan and Terran fight against the Proximans. The original book concentrated on the artwork and the types of spacecraft. The poorly written sequel cannot resist moralizing, stating that while the Proximans nuclear attack may have caused the war, really it was the Alphan superior and condencending attitute that was truly responsibile.

It's a stretch to try to preach politics in this book, and the original was vastly superior for not trying to push it's political agenda.
Sadly, this book is far inferior to the original.

This is not a new book of artwork.

This is the same artwork, redone with CGI and redone badly.

If you have the originals, don't bother with this one.

I have all the original books and I just love that this universe is back again. I think the new pictures look great and it is a fine addition to the TTA mythos. I hope they create more.

Spacecraft 2100 to 2200 AD is nothing but Spacecraft 2000 to 2100 with the same ships but different, improved, graphics. Only buy it if you don't have the old version.

Once more the new publishers of the TTA books have found ways to spoil old classics - the original hardback version was clear and to the point - this much smaller layout sized soft cover lose's it in that it repeats materials and tries to cover more ground than it really needs to
Once more its technical info and graphics are its only saving grace

I found this story be charming with a strong hero and heroine,a lovely romance and a cool secret.
Nicely done!

JL

Very poorly written book. Silly transitions and poor plot devices. Can you say Hack? If you want a good book, go pick up ANY Nora Roberts book and it will be head and shoulders above this.

The book I purchased was listed in "like new" condition by the seller. It is not. It is yellowed, has water stains, a little tattered and just
looks musty and old. Honestly, I don't even want to touch it.

A picaresque, following 'Soapey' Sponge - a sportsman but not quite a gentleman - as he foxhunts and fortune-hunts his way around England. He exploits (as Surtees satirises) the failings of those he encounters - Waffles (spendthrift), Jawleyford (humbug), Puffington (parvenu), Jogglebury (foolish), Scattercash (debauched)... Only coarse Lord Scamperdale consistently detests him. People invite him to stay but struggle to evict him. His selfishness diminishes only on meeting & falling for lovely Lucy Glitters while hunting . Lacks sympathetic characters, silly names and voices abound and overlong given its lightness and looseness. Terrific foxhunting detail & a delightlful, surprising ending.

Rating : 54.6% Moments of Beauty (5) Characterisation (6) Sincerity (6) Humour (6) Adhesiveness (5) Profundity - Social (6) Profundity - Maetaphysical (2) Sense of Place (8) Significance (5) Structure & Plotting (6) Style - Readability (7) Style - Virtuosity & Uniqueness (5) Theme - Strength & Unity (4)

I am a big fan of most of Jules Witcover's work, particularly his first book about Spiro Agnew. This book comes up short, however. I suspect this is largely because Richard Cohen also contributed to the book. His columns are filled with innuendo and outright logical fallacies and I suspect some of this sloppiness crept into the parts of the book on which he worked.