Bradford Books

"This, after all, is MY story, and so I do not apologize for its pervasive subjectivity."

So said Mencken in the preface, and good for him. While his usual verbal pyrotechnics give way to straight reporting here, you always know exactly where he stood.

The book's focus is Mencken's association with the Baltimore Sunpapers. His Free Lance column established his iconoclastic reputation locally. He helped draft the White Paper ("the doctrine that public officials, under democracy, were predominantly frauds, and hence did not deserve to be taken seriously") that became the basis for the company's success during the Roaring Twenties. He represented the paper in its dispute with Baltimore's Catholic archbishop over a reporter's questionable judgment. Despite outside commitments (he wrote and co-wrote more than 20 books, edited two magazines, and wrote hundreds of articles for other newspapers and magazines during this period), he remained a columnist for decades, and eventually joined the board of directors.

Mencken occasionally had a problem with years; he later placed the 1925 Scopes trial and Bryan's death in 1926, and refers back to the 1928 conventions as having happened in 1924. He finished this account before writing Heathen Days; parts of each book overlap, but, save for several Scopes trial passages and a few other adventures, aren't repeated. Even to his Scopes notes, he added many previously unpublished details.

Interesting details abound. In addition to his job, Mencken remembers peers in his field, oppressive censorship and anti-German discrimination during World War I, acquiring liquor during Prohibition, the establishment of Time magazine ("I was surprised by its immense success, for it was marked at the start, as it still is today, by a pretentious and puerile style of writing and a pervasive ignorance and inaccuracy"), several of his trips abroad, and the transient self-aggrandizing government timeservers who became "as completely forgotten as the politicians of the Polk administration". Then there are the humorous moments, such as his lodging arrangements at the 1920 Republican convention:

"I roomed with Kent, and had two disconcerting surprises the first night. The first came when he got down on his knees beside his bed and began to pray audibly and volubly, clad in an old-fashioned nightshirt. The second followed soon afterward, as he fell asleep. Never in my life have I heard more appalling snoring. All the ordinary sounds were there, but in addition there were others - for example, a series of crescendo gurgles ending in what seemed to be strangulation, with both the performer and me leaping up in our beds. The next night I managed to have Kent bunked with Adams, and so got some sleep."

The book is also a window into a transitional era. Cars and airplanes increased in popularity, but passenger trains remained the main mode of transportation for long distances: some of Mencken's fonder memories occurred on and near trains. Wireless telegraphy evolved into commercial radio. The telephone helped facilitate the reporter's job as it became more common.

Above all, this is Mencken as only Mencken could write; clear, opinionated, and quotable. This thoroughly enjoyable reading experience makes me glad he lived when he did: if his like were to come along again, he'd be barred from today's dumbed-down mainstream media.

These texts are comprehensive and definitive. No question is left unanswered. New concepts are introduced in a clear, concise manner and all equations are derived from first principles. They are truly a pleasure to use as a student and as a teacher.

Having sat in chairs much of my life (and am doing so as I write this), I'm nevertheless far from an expert in the field, but with this book in hand, whether I sit or stand, I get a glimpse into the minds of chair experts. These are folks who have pondered both whimsically and practically this most ubiquitous of modern furniture, both in its form and function.

In these pages are words of insight from eight notable chair designers and marketers circa 1977. Plus, over 1,000 black and white photos of, you guessed it, chairs. Small photos to be sure, nothing fancy, and primarily contemporary designs of the time the book was published.

Is this the best book on chair-ology? I can't say but can imagine there could be a more comprehensive or in-depth treatment, as I now realize it is a field both broad and deep. Think of all the types of chairs we've each experienced in our lives!

I'm certainly not one to judge a chair book too severely or authoritatively, having never even tried to design a seating device (though I've sold a few at the local swap meet), but there does seem to be a fair amount of serious and creative thought about the art and business of chair design that it is bound to be of interest, and likely some degree of inspiration for anyone who has ever considered designing and building a unique but pleasing and practical seat. And for those who have never given the topic studious thought, here is a book, even as dated as it is, that will definitely give you something to sit back and contemplate.

Chairs, especially the comfortable ones, I now realize, are usually products of a mixture of art and technology, with complexities far beyond what they are usually given credit for. I stand with new appreciation for the device.

This book was very good. An interesting detective novel. Very good name. A must read for detective novel enthusist.

Looking for an excellent book to help with a move to Colorado, this is THE one!In its third revision speaks for itself. Topics include high altitude living, politics, car registration, schools and places to see.

This book is great for kids. I liked the easy, anyone can use, hints for young gardeners. Leigh is a charming gardener.

This is by far the best Children's Bible Story Book out there. This book covers every book in the Bible without the Chapters and Verses. I find it very useful when teaching the children. It is much more detailed than even the Children's Bible books today! If you can get your hands on this book, you have got a gem for ages to come!

I don't think of myself as much different from most people who grew up in the United States, going through grade school with a modest understanding of our nation's history. From Columbus up until the present day, we were presented with an abbreviated history highlighted with sidebars that would occasionally delve deeper into the subject matter. My knowledge of Christopher Columbus was basically limited to the fact that he was Italian, had gone to Spain and convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to finance his voyage to Asia, which he felt he could reach by heading west, and that he had made four voyages of discovery. After listening to this fascinating book-on-tape by Ernle Bradford, I learned not only about how tough it was...years of hard work...just to get Ferdinand and Isabella's support, but about the intrigue and drama that resulted in the later voyages. The experiences of these four distinctly different trips, including the dangers and life-threatening challenges that make the work of today's thrill-seekers pale in comparison, are vividly drawn in an engrossing story that makes me feel an admiration for this man I could not have expected. Let the judgement of today's political scientists be what it may regarding the destruction of the indigenous people and the resulting chaos that became the New World. For me, "Christopher Columbus" is an engrossing story of a man who braved incredible dangers to rally support for his mission and his religion, managed to nurture relationships of both royalty and ordinary seamen in his efforts to achieve success, faced mutinous challenges by greedy counterparts, and sadly, never lived to know the scope of his discovery.

This was purchased as reading material for my children. I was happy to find it still in print.

This book teaches coaches how to use the same approach that experienced FBI agents employ when interviewing witnesses, victims, or even criminals: Look well beyond the surface of the conversation at the person's language, emotion, and body language (somatics). I particularly liked the authors' framing their key focus as Emotional Social Effectiveness--because it is more than emotional intelligence (which sounds both high-brow and out of touch). The authors also introduce five critical techniques, which resonated with me as an executive coach and former FBI agent. Here they are with my personal interpretation of what they mean in a nutshell:
1. Value Self--Respect and trust ourselves
2. Value Others--Respect and trust others
3. Responsive Awareness--Be aware and act wisely
4. Courage--Do the right thing
5. Authentic Success--Balance meaning with achievement

The book not only provides a sound theoretical explanation of each of these techniques, but it also offers a number of concrete examples and case studies. I especially liked the chapter, "Coaching to Enhance, Develop, and Strengthen Emotional and Social Competencies in Government Leaders" by contributing author Lee Salmon (Federal Consulting Group, U.S. Department of Treasury). I only wish that this book had been around when I was teaching and coaching at the FBI Academy in a previous career. It would have helped me and my internal clients a great deal.

I felt like this book was an important read for me as an executive coach and will serve as a great reference book for the future.

Steve Gladis

www.stevegladis.com