Bell Books

This concise and very well written book is thoughtful distillation of the enormous literature related to the onset of WWII in Europe. The simple question, who started WWII, has a simple answer. It was Adolf Hitler. The simple answer obscures a whole series of considerably more difficult questions. How did a marginal figure and 4th-rate ideologue like Hitler come to rule the most powerful state in Europe? Why wasn't there more initial resistance to Hitler? What was the role of the Great Depression? To what extent did the post-WWI settlement lead to WWII? What was the role of the Soviet Union and Stalin? Many other questions arise. Bell deals with many of these issues in a series of well crafted chapters. The book opens by framing the issues, including a short but worthwhile discussion of historiographic issues, follows by discussing underlying factors such as ideology, economics, the role of the depression, the roles of the military postures adopted by the major actors, and then concludes with a nice narrative of the outbreak of war. Bell very intelligently extends his narrative beyond 1939 to the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, pointing out that it is these later events that allow assessment of the role of key ideological factors in the coming of WWII. This book is worth reading just for the chapters dealing with the consequences of the Great Depression. A theme throughout the book is the limited options possessed by the leaders of France and Britain. Given their internal political situations, some form of appeasement was inevitable, though consistently unpalatable. I have a couple of minor complaints. I don't think Bell deals with the uncertain nature of politics in the Weimar Republic. Hitler's accession to power was not inevitable. While some form of reactionary German government bent on reversing the settlement of WWI was probably inevitable, it could have been one dominated by more traditional conservatives. This type of leadership would have been amenable to the type of accomodation and diplomacy attempted by Chamberlain and the French leadership. It is clear also, in retrospect, that few in Europe really understood the depth of the Nazi racial preoccupations and their bizarre model of history, a tragic though understandable mistake.

This is a great book everyone should read, I salute it.

Bell does a fine job of looking at just what brought about the Second World War. He explains its connections to the Great War, by first discussing the idea of a Thirty Years War, and by then examining how the first war and its results brought about the second. Bell also provides readers with the roles and views of the various ideologies and the many desires for and against war, and also the many strategies involved with each of the main players. An excellent book for anyone wishing to better understand the differing forces and actions which brought about this war.

The true story of a cop who knew too much.
1978 hardcover. 311 page published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Author's note: All of the events depicted in this book are a matter of factual record, and the people are real. No names have been chenged. The dialogue has either been taken from concealed tape recordings made at the time the events took place or been carefully reconstructed through interviews with the participants.

This is a dazzling work of nonfiction that traces the story of Robert Leuci, a young detective with the New York City Police Department who came to a crossroads in his life and found himself confronted with whom he had become and, apparently, did not like what he saw. As a team leader in the elite and now defunct Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Narcotics division during the late nineteen sixties and early seventies, Leuci was involved in many large narcotics takedowns and, consequently, the corruption that then often ensued.

In early 1971, Leuci was called to appear before the Commission to investigate Alleged Police Corruption, which was known as the Knapp Commission. Although the commission had no evidence of wrongdoing by Leuci, it had called him in to ask about some of the detectives that he had worked with in SIU. Leuci, at the time, refused to give up his fellow officers, claiming that the whole criminal justice arena, including the lawyers and the courts, were corrupt. Leuci was interviewed by Nicholas Scoppetta, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney with the Knapp Commission (and now the current New York City Fire Department Commissioner). After interviewing him, Scoppetta decided to leave the Knapp Commission and persuaded the federal government to undertake a probe into the entire criminal justice system of New York City with Detective Robert Leuci as its linchpin, an investigation that the federal government agreed to undertake.

The book details Detective's Leuci's personal exploits, as he fearlessly helped the federal government make its cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, and other cops. For years, Leuci walked a fine line, continuing his work as a NYPD detective while working as a confidential informant for the feds, often at great risk to his life. The details of his exploits are riveting, as they expose the seamy side of a criminal justice system that, at the time, was truly corrupt at so many levels. Moreover, Leuci's personal angst in trying to keep his detective friends from becoming embroiled in the investigation is palpable throughout the book, as is Leuci's innate sense of fair play.

Leuci himself had previously been on the take, a fact of which the feds were aware. It was the extent to which Leuci had been on the take that the Feds were unaware. Leuci's perfidy was not revealed in its entirety until the government had made many arrests, grand juries had handed down indictments, and defendants had been tried and convicted. Leuci had worked with Rudolf Giuliani, who was then a young Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of the State of New York. It was to Giuliani that Leuci eventually unburdened himself. I have to commend Giuliani for the compassion that he extended to Leuci, a man who was clearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown after leading a double life for years and who, for so long, had internalized his anxiety over his own and his friends' involvement in the corruption that was at the heart of the investigation.

This is a well-written and moving true story of a cop who knew too much and was eventually made to sing. This is a great book upon which the wonderful, gritty film, "Prince of the City", starring Treat Williams, was based. Those who are interested in the criminal justice arena or are cop buffs will especially enjoy this book, as well as the film. Bravo!

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much is the dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci, a deep cover sleuth who assembled corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures, and even some of his own, putting his own life in peril for the sake of law and justice. Written in the style of a novel, Prince Of The City offers an unflinchingly honest portrait of the rigors of policework, the toll it can take, and the horrors it encounters all too often. An introduction by Rudolph Giuliani rounds out this mesmerizing chronicle of courage and duty.

This book is great! Its a great coffee table book or a nice piece to briefly cover the topic of sustainability in Minnesota. It gives brief overviews of individuals and families that are incorporating community building and sustainability into their lives, business practices, business models, and architecture. My hat's off to the authors of this book and to the people whom made this book possible, the many subjects of this book.

I purchased every volume of this directory and found them all to be very useful to me at one point or the other. The information is very fresh and up to date. Thank You - Balil

Very complete information. Extremely helpful. Let's of sources and contact information. Definite must buy!

I've been reading this strip since it's debut and I was so pleased to have a book come out--I immediately had to purchase it! Bell and Heir are a fabulous team and have created a delightful group of characters that are an incredible mix of age, wisdom, thick headedness and fun. They poke fun at our obsession with coffee, computers, news stories, and the government. My favorite character has to be Sadie Cohen though---the cranky old lady who says everything we all think but that we're not always gutsy enough to express for ourselves. Go Xtreme Scrabble!!!!!

I was surprised how on-point, hilarious, and gutsy the political and social commentary in this book is. I've been reading this comic strip since day one on the NY Times website, and later in my local paper. Long before the 'sixteen words' in the President's speech made such an uproar, and back when the only other voice critical of the Administration was 'The Boondocks,' 'Rudy Park' was calling it like they saw it. This strip has spoken out when so many others in our Media have wimped out. But unlike 'The Boondocks' which is rarely funny, and is too mean-spirited for my tastes, this satire really does 'poke fun' at its targets. It's in the same spirit as 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.' It's honest and unafraid, but it's also light-hearted and whimsical at times. Also unlike Boondocks, it devotes a LOT of time to the characters, including Mrs. Cohen, a cranky but wise old lady who reminds me of my grandma, and Monkey, an orangutan Rudy bought from a broke day-trader. This first book also shows how Rudy is a constant victim of unrequited love, how his boss Armstrong is a greedy 'George Jefferson' type, and introduces us to several other endearing characters who are each a little bit mysterious. One, Randy 'The Rock' Taylor, got a job in airport security after 9-11, and routinely checks to make sure people don't have guns, knives, or ugly polka-dot underwear. My favorite is Uncle Mort, the wild-eyed, Liberal conspiracy theorist with a bullhorn who can never get anyone to pay any attention to him, no matter how loud -or how right- he is. This book is a great start, and I can't wait until the next one comes out (the next one, if they're doing them in order, should have even more commentary on the War on Terror and more developments with Rudy's unrequited love of Darlene Desai.). The strip is a wild ride, and I recommend getting this book for anyone who likes cafes, cares about politics and social issues, or who likes looking at really cute Orangutans that dream about Taco Bell value meals. If you want social satire that's endearing instead of mean-spirited, buy this book!

If you're looking for something that has funny characters, great writing, and great artwork, this is for you. I never read comics until my boyfriend got me hooked on "Rudy Park" and "Get Fuzzy." But while Get Fuzzy is a good escape from the world around us, Rudy Park is great because it lampoons the world around us.

It even manages to make the horrible job situation we're facing today funny in unexpected ways. If you're afraid of the direction our country's headed in, wary of terrorism and corporate scandals, and you're worried that your job may suddenly disappear, nothing will make you laugh like this.

I am a fourth grade teacher in the southern California area. I bought this book online about six months ago. My students have learned a lot about the California Missions, and find the games entertaining as well. It's easy for them to understand, and gives them creative ideas to work with their information. Learning can be fun! Just ask my students! There need to be more books out there like this.

I got this book from Santa on Christmas. Its so cool! There are lots of games to do, and it helps me with my California Social Studies class too.

I ordered this book for my two sons. Since then, they have enjoyed hours of fun. I even tend to join in on the fun once in a while. The artwork is FABULOUS and the easy learning history is great. This book is great for kids and adults. My kids are actually having fun and learning at the same time. Great job guys!

I bought this book after an introduction to Sandra Shamas' work in Anthology of Canadian Humor (Will Ferguson). A Trilogy of Performances is very, very funny. I found myself giggling and laughing out loud as I read the book from cover to cover. Since it is a compilation of several of her stand-up performances it is loaded with funny stories and honest but humorous observations. I wood characterize Shamas' humor as adult, feminist, and humanist. Not Lenny Bruce adult, but the work is a bit raw and if you have problems with expressions like ski-jump tits then maybe this work is not for you.

Sandra Shamas is a rare, one-of-a-kind talent who can capture everyday life experiences with hilarity, high-fun and humility. I can't believe she isn't a COLOSSAL, HUGE, HUGE hit in the U.S. yet (though I understand it's of her own choosing). Her book will brighten your day or make a dark, dreary night seem like a trip to the circus, but if you get a chance to see her show live, YOU MUST GO! I guarantee you will laugh until food comes out of your nose (Yuk!), and you will reminisce about her shows for years to come. Take a good friend with you -- you'll have the time of your life!

Years ago a friend and I went to see Sandra Shamas perform 'My Boyfriend's Back and There's Gonna Be Laundry'. We still talk about it to this day. It was one of those rare evenings in which the two of us sat staring up at Sandra, hanging on her every word, tears of laughter streaming down our faces which were permanently contorted into a big open mouthed laugh - we're talking sore face and belly muscles at the end of it all kind of laughter. Since then we've been desperate to see more of Sandra's work but were never able to - Until now! Thank you for writing it all down Sandra. This book is a real gift. Read it and weep!

My favorite thing about the car is that it makes a tragedy with pollution but it still helps people get everywhere they need to go. The car in this book is really big and cute. I like the pictures--they're wonderful! Madeline Smith (6 years old)

I wish that I had a car like that! Benjamin Smith (4 years old)


Sputter, sputter, is a wonderful book! We just purchased it an hour ago and I've already read it to my children nine times. The plot of the book is creative and fun and has promoted lots of discussion. The illustrations are lively, colorful, and fun! A fantastic read! Christine (Madeline and Benjamin's mom)

Bright colors, simple content, and fresh graphics make this a terrific book for the younger set. All too often books geared to this age range are full of syrup and fluff, both are which are decidedly absent here. Instead, a bright red car, complete with endearing wide-eyed driver, takes the readers on a twisting tour around town.

Bob Staake's unmistakable illustrations feature exaggerated shapes exploding with color. Circles, triangles, rectangles and squares are transformed into heads, bodies, buildings and cars. Half the pages are very simple, while the other half are brimming with tiny details waiting to be discovered.

Zoom! Vroom! Zoom! Readers can trace the little red car's path as the road meanders uphill, downhill, all about the city. Good clean car fun paired with a rhyming text makes for an enjoyable read! Let your child's imagination roar to life with this roadside adventure.

Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (7/08)

"Sputter, Sputter, Sput!" follows a car after the driver fills up with gas. He zooms up and down the hills and past all of the houses. He drives so far that the car runs out of gas causing the car to "Sputter! Sputter! Sput!" After figuring out what the problem is, the driver fills the car up again and goes for another hilly drive.

Max: "Car! Vrrooommmm!"
Cayden: "He is filling the car up with gas."

Cayden: "Look at him go! That is a very windy road he is driving on!"
Max: "Drive car!"

Max: "Up! Up!"
Max: "Down! Down!"

Cayden: "Why did his car stop going? What is wrong with it?"
Max: "Broke!"

Cayden: "Now he can go again because he filled it back up with gas."
Max: "Vrrooommmm!"

Parent's comments:

"Sputter, Sputter, Sput!" by Babs Bell is a very basic and fun book. Both of my children love cars so when they saw the car on the cover they were already hooked! The illustrations are engaging and helpful in teaching children simple concepts such as up, down and far. Max really enjoyed following the roads and hills with his finger and letting us know what direction the car was going.

Its good to see that the rural studios work is not unique but rather part of a movement, with other brilliant examples such as the work documented in this book. Beautifully illustrated. Probably the most in depth discussion I've read on the methods and challenges of work among the poor and underserved.
A great contribution to architectures claim to relevance.

This is a great book for both those people who are interested in learning about or those people who are already familiar with environmentally friendly "green" building pratices used in sustainable architecture. Studio at Large specifically chronicles the achievements of the UW BASIC Initiative program that Sergio Palleroni and his colleagues created in 1995. It is fascinating and moving to see the impact this work has on the local and global levels in society.

Prof. Sergio Palleroni teaches the "art-and-science" of "architecture" the old fashion way--with leadership and passion! He's not affraid of rolling up his sleeves, soiling his boot and spending his summer vacations whith his students (the future leaders): teachong design, scheduling and building sustainable communities in the "developing countries."

If you're anything like me, then you probably have a treasured personal library containing a lot of books that are thought-provoking and that give you pleasure. I think that books are one of the basic necessities of life, as the Chinese saying goes "When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a book with the other".

Well, this is not the original proverb, but I think that this version is just as beautiful, I will buy a lilly if I find a third penny. :)

But what if you can make that library more beautiful, to add something that will make you even more proud of it and that will help you through the those times during which you are not willing to do anything, or that will just help you relax after a long day at work or at college?

I think that this Body in Mind book is the answer to that question. It's definitely something that will adorn your library and make it a bit more lively. It will also show those dear ones that have access to your libraries another aspect of your personality, which is that you can enjoy true beauty.

There are a lot of other websites that make their own books, Natural Beauties, the book of Domai, is an example, but I personally prefer this one to that of Domai at the moment for various reasons. I will buy the Domai book if I find a fourth penny, but for me the second penny is reserved for the Body in Mind Book. :)

I enjoyed the purity and honesty of the photographs of the models in this book. We are so bombarded in the media these days by pseudo glamorous females. This book takes an opposite and more traditional approach on the female body and its beauty. This book is a testament that there really is no need to even attempt to improve nature.

I ordered this book on the promise that the cover picture would be in indication of the book's contents. I was not disappointed. It is refreshing to see regular "normal" women, without make up and airbrushing.
The cover model's photos, especially those on page 255 are worth the price of the book by themselves.

BONUS: For those of us who admire CSI Miami Detective Calleigh Duquesne,
check out the blonde on page 34 to 43. They say everyone has a
double; so this is what this CSI Officer looks like sans clothes !

Madison Smartt Bell does a masterful job of contrasting inner city and middle-class life through speech, thought, and experience. A good read...compares favorably with Richard Price's "Clockers"

Bell's ninth novel is a stunning accomplishment; alternating between the explosive language of Baltimore's drug culture with the meditative qualities of Tae Kwon Do, he examines race relations, hope and compassion, and most specifically, the moral dilemma of doing and not just saying. The novel takes places in modern day Baltimore, both in the suburbs of upper middle class, as well as the inner city urban homes.

Mike Devlin seemingly has it all, a successful psychiatric practice, a nice home in one of the wealthier suburbs, a loving wife and a daughter getting ready to go off to the college of her choice in a year. He is also a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and as the top student in his Master's school, Devlin is sent to start a new branch. This branch is set up in the inner city of Baltimore. It is here that the rest of our cast is introduced.

We meet many inner city youth at his school: Trig, Gyp, Kool-Whip, Freon, Sharmane, Tamara, Buster, D-Trak, Clayvon, Stuttz, amongst others. Here we see the opposite life to Devlin's; those with nearly nothing. Living in projects, one or maybe no parents, and children way before they were ready.

There are virtually no minor characters in this novel besides maybe some of Devlin's patients. They are used to foreshadow some events and to allow the reader the possibility that Devlin is not satisfied with his current life. Over half of the dope dealers and those residing in the projects are fully realized. We understand what they do, how they do it, and sadly, why they do it.

Bell is one of the few authors out there seriously writing about race issues. It's as if he needs to do so, as if his writing about the problem will help him come to some conclusions. In lesser writer's hands, this set up could lead to a very cliché book. In the hands of Bell it becomes anything but. His use of language is true; as the story alternates between various narrators (including an omniscient third person narrator), the language takes on the structure and vocabulary expected.

To the outsider, as Devlin gets more involved in his school, he begins acting strangely. To some it would appear as some sort of a mid-life crisis. Even his wife, an ex-social worker with some professional acumen, feels he is sliding down a tunnel of depression and warns him he won't drag her along. He even struggles himself at times to come to words for what he is doing, but before his final actions he comes to a realization.

He is not succumbing to the notion that one individual can't make a difference. He is following the words of his Master and doing what he says, not just saying it. He is getting involved in lives, trying to make a difference. For an hour a day, he is fairly successful. It is the other 23 that put him to the test.

There is plenty of action throughout the novel; both in and out of the Tae Kwon Do school. Bell does a great job of describing hand to hand combat. His writing allows the reader to visualize each action, almost well enough to believe he or she is learning Tae Kwon Do, banging along with the characters, or watching Devlin's patients describe their lives.

You won't soon forget Devlin, his daughter Michelle, Trig or any of the other characters in this book; their efforts, actions and plight will stick with readers for awhile. Amazingly enough, Bell published this book in between volumes I and II of his Haitian trilogy. With ten novels in print now, and two short story collections, Madison Smartt Bell has enough to keep you busy reading for a long time. Take advantage.

I'm not much of a reader. As a matter of fact, I used to avoid books like the plague. Ten Indians is a book that I had to read during summer school last year in college, and I am glad that I did. The author did a wonderful job of grabbing my attention and keeping it throughout the entire novel. Basically, this review goes for all you non-readers out there, if you have to read a book, read this one.