Burr Books

Once again I don't know how I find all these books where you can tell what is going to happen. It was a good story though with a wonderful message and intrigue! You won't be sorry to pick this one up!

This was my first venture into reading Jill Marie Landis and it won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line of this book. Her writing was smooth and easy to read without being stilted. The plot kept moving along at a good pace and I found the story brought me in quickly and held my attention and curiosity. I'm looking forward to her next book and will definitely seek out previous ones.
I gave it four stars because I felt she could have gone into more depth with the man who took her in and kept her paintings.
Maybe a sequel would be in order? I hope so.

Sometime in the past, a young mother is made an offer that most would have to think about. Caroline Graham had plans on marrying her son's father until tragedy struck, causing Rick's untimely death. His parents, millionaires without a sense of humanity, want to raise the only his only son. So they offer Caroline a million dollars for her child. Arthur Litton, the attorney that makes the offer on behalf of the grandparents, is quick to remind Caroline that she would have no chance of winning a court case and would be best to take their offer. When Arthur leaves her that fateful day, she leaves town and seems to have mysteriously disappeared from life.

Fast forward to the present day. Jake is a PI that was assigned to track Caroline down when she first disappeared. He also happened to be a friend of Rick. After everyone else had given up on every find Caroline again, Jake still pursued it, not for the economical compensation from Rick's parents, but for the sake of knowing that his friend's child was being raised properly.

A picture of a painting leads Jake on what he feels will be another wild goose chase. Yet, there is something about that painting that reminds him of the ones that Caroline left behind in her disappearance years ago, that he has to investigate.

The story goes on to have Jake find Caroline; only now she is called Carly. While attempting to find Rick's son, he finds love along the way. I could go on and tell you the story, but it is best to read the book. You will find the warmth of a small town, the fears of a single mother always looking over her shoulder and refusing to open up to anyone and a man that finds true love while never realizing that he also had someone right beneath his nose in love with him.

A must read for any romance fan!

Frederick A. Babb

The characters come to life in LOVER'S LANE, a turbulent tale of a young woman running from her past and desperate to keep custody of her son. I'm usually not drawn to books like this one, where it's more a story than suspenseful, but I simply fell in love with it, the characters, the town and the emotional pitfalls faced by Carly, Jake and Anna. I couldn't put it down after the first page. And I actually want to read the second, HEAT WAVE - and I'm not one to get caught up in a series. But it appears they are written as individual books in the same town, which I can handle. I'm not going to go into details of the plot, but I will tell you Landis' effort is well-written and captures your attention from the get-go.

Carly Nolan has always been alone, a runaway shuttled from foster home to foster home until she escaped to the California desert, where she met Rick Saunders. A month long affair resulted in the birth of his son. Rick is elated about settling down with his new family, but tragedy strikes, and he is killed in a car accident. His family wants baby Christopher, and is willing to pay 7 figures to get Carly out of their lives. Instead, she flees and starts over.

Rick's best friend, PI Jake Montgomery has searched for 6 years for "Caroline" (the name that everyone knew her by) and Christopher. A chance sighting of a painting similar to one he owns in a magazine, painted by Caroline, brings him to Twilight Cove, a seaside community where Carly has started over. He wants to reunite Christopher with his grandmother, not knowing the real reason Carly fled.

Rick is soon smitten with Carly when he discovers that she is not the trashy gold digger Rick's parents made her out to be, and hides his identity, which only makes matter worse when Carly is ready to return his feelings. He also falls for the town, and buys a fixer upper with the intention of getting to know Carly better.

Torn between his emerging feelings for Carly and Chris, and his sense of betrayal to Rick, he keeps his findings a secret from Rick's now-widowed mother, who has suspicions of her own and has him followed on a trip to Twilight Cove. Soon, Carly is served with a custody suit, and discovers what the real meaning of family can mean to someone who thought they were alone in the world.

What could have been the typical movie of the week plot is handled sensitively and the characters come alive on the page. This is the first in a trilogy of books, with Heat Wave and Heartbreak Hotel to follow. If Lover's Lane is any indication of the quality of the series, I surely won't miss them.

I just finished The Life We Are Given(TLWAG.) The examples and techniques are interesting, and I am incorporating the ideas in my schedule. We'll see if it has the desired final results.

Clearly the holistic approach to total fitness (sould, mind, body)should yield the best results.

My only complaint is regarding the anecdotal commentary, and reference to experiences of study groups, often going back 20 years. The authors could have spent more time on the meat and bones of methodology and less time saying which group experience what type of weight loss and so forth. TLWAG is valuable as an instructional book, but not as journal of past experiences.

Still, it is a good read, even with the extraneous commentary. I would strongly recommend the book.

If you really want a method that will lhelp you make changes to yourself and in your life, this book will point the way. After reading this book, and following the ITP as set forth in it, at the age of 60 I began running and 6 months later completed a marathon as my first road race (in the middle of my age group). I'm now 65 and have consistently followed the Integral Transformative Practice outlined in the book to work at making myself a healthier, more creative, loving, and wiser person. Be aware, however, that the ITP is WORK--but the method is highly effective.

First off I'm really sorry to rain on this parade of 5-star reviews only. As with any book, I say: "buy it if you want to, you can always send it back" - don't let my review put you off getting this book if you feel you want it.

I however, will be sending this book back. Why?

Because it's full of stuff I, and most likely everyone who has done some reading in the self-help and self-improvement section, already know(s).

Let me explain:

This is what "Integral Transformative Practice" (ITP) consists of:

1 - A simple routine (called "ITP Kata") of Tai Chi or Chi-kung like exercises and stretches, to be done 5 times a week or more.

2 - Affirmations

3 - Exercise (cardiovascular and strength)

4 - Healthy diet (low fat in this book :-) ) and

5 - Meditation

Now, as you can see you can most likely create your own little routine with books you already own.

There's a bit about the importance of doing this work within a group of dedicated ITP practitioners (nay for a loner like myself), and some info about energy work (ch'i if you prefer) and such.

It was a bit dissapointing because there are no grand promises, no new and exciting revelations. It's simply "Do this stuff and you'll be healthy and happy."

So, in conclusion: Good for beginners, bad (or at least boring) for your average hardcore self-help nut.

The authors have been leaders in the human potential area for many years: Michael Murphy is the founder of the Esalen Institute, and George Leonard is author of a number of books. In this collaborative work, they present an overview of a course they developed at Esalen, described as an exploration of the twelve aspects of human functioning outlined in Murphy's book "The Future of the Body..."

In the introduction to this book, they write, "Every person on this planet can join in the process of transformative practice that began with our ancient ancestors." Chapters include specific instruction in various forms of affirmation, Katz (a series of body movements), mental imaging, meditation and other structured practices, and the authors note "many fine practices, many paths exist... Many, many activities can be considered practice. Even something as commonplace as gardening can be a practice if done for the sheer love of it, as an expression of the gardener's soul." The authors obviously have a commitment to helping advance, as they say, "the realization of every citizen's positive potential... inherent in every aspect of our lives, from the most common to the most extraordinary."

Despite all of the respect I have for Leonard and Murphy with their theoretical work in various fields and their other books, I found "The Life We are Given" to be two things: a simple, and somewhat effective practice, and prematurely self-congratulatory.

Before reading on, if you are someone who is looking for a way to transform your life and to create new and healthy habits--if you don't already have a practice of your own--I DO recommend this book. The program is simple, logical and very encouraging. Not to mention it's simply a great place to start.

The book is basically a concoction of meditation, Yoga, fitness, affirmations, and a healthy diet. Obviously these are things you can practice on your own, seperately, but I suppose the ITP is a convenient way to combine these if you're unfamiliar with them otherwise.

Now for my problems with the book.

1) Despite having an acute interest in transpersonal practice, meditation, yoga, and other "spiritual" disciplines, my "New Age" radar goes off a few times during this book. Even though things like visualization and affirmations can be effective, they're just as effective in different mental forms...i.e., not so sugar-coated. I may be splitting hairs here, but I prefer my practice to be described to me in terms that will make sense beyond "your hand cares for your heart."

2) The other qualm is the self-congratulatory tone of the book. Murphy and Leonard are amazing men, who have contributed a lot, but they seem to stand on a pedestal here as if they've stumbled across something groundbreaking, when its not. The ITP is simply a recipe of practices that already exist on their own and that CAN be practiced on their own. And at the risk of sounding a bit pompous, it doesn't take a genius to decide they want to engage in healthy growth in mind, body and soul on their own.

So I reiterate, if you are looking for a positive change in your life (body, mind, and soul), and are not currently practicing anything and know very little about these practices, then this is a relevant book. Otherwise, the book says nothing that hasn't been said before. On top of that, the authors sound like they think it's never been said before, which is obnoxious.

Chandler Burr is the resident perfume critic for The New York Times. In this capacity he writes regular reviews ("Scent Notes"), which initially strike one as unbelievably precious, but are ultimately kind of engaging. His previous book, "The Emperor of Scent", about the science of smell, was one of the best examples of science writing I've ever read.

This book, an account of the development and launch of two new perfumes, "Lovely" by Coty for Sarah Jessica Parker, and "Jardin sur le Nil" by Hermes, doesn't quite match the brilliance of "The Emperor of Scent", but it is engagingly written and was a very enjoyable read. To some extent, the science writing, which I think is Burr's particular strength, takes a back seat as he describes all of the other facets of product development. Which he does with the same intelligence and wit that characterized his earlier book: his take on the relationships among the various players at Hermes, as well as on SJP's unusual degree of personal involvement in the development of "Lovely" is nuanced and perceptive. Occasionally, Chandler's inner geek takes over, treating the reader to two pages of chemical details. Personally, I found this kind of charming, but other readers might not agree.

A smart, highly readable, account of a subject to which you may not have given much thought. My only caveat would be that, given Chandler's exceptional talent for science writing, I'd love to see him take on something a little more weighty next time around. For example, biotechnology, genetic testing, or pharmaceutical drug development: anyone who can write so vividly about the world of fragrance chemistry could undoubtedly contribute significantly in making these topics more accessible to a general audience.

I purchased the CD version of this book (there are 10 CDs), and had a fantastic time listening to it on the way and back from work. I knew very little about the perfume/cologne industry before buying this book. However, now I actually find it enjoyable to go into department stores and try out different scents. This book is so great because it is a real joy to read (or listen to in my case), and I learned a great deal about a very mysterious industry. I work in marketing, so I found the way that the products are marketed in this industry to be really interesting. I can't help but wonder why the perfume/cologne industry has done such a poor job of educating the public about its products (unlike the wine industry, which has done such a good job). So, read this book (or listen to it) if you really want to open up a whole new realm of your life!

and I happen to like lilacs! His nose can't possibly be right all the time, can it? Maybe he just wanted to see if people will actually sniff soiled underwear and compare it with the smell of lilacs. Or, buy a Godiva chocolate bar to see if it really has a hint of "the smell of sh**." Well, I didn't do either one of those scratch n' sniff challenges. Thought about it, but...nah, no thanks! However, the Tonquin musk comparison challenge sounds intriguing; I just don't know where to get the Tonquin musk! ;-)
Anyway, I'm not at all into perfume, but after reading this book, I found myself stopping at perfume counters, spraying test strips and sniffing as many of the perfumes mentioned in the book as I could find. As other reviewers have said, the author has a such a fluid writing style, that he both entertains and educates the reader with wonderful ease; that is, if you like lots of metaphors and similes (I think it would be rather tough to write a book about scents, otherwise).
Years ago, MTV showed a 30-second clip of how JLo was developing her follow-up to Glow; I saw it and I wasn't impressed. JLo didn't seem involved at all with creating the scent: she was sniffing and rejecting fragrance blotters, that was all. The description of how SJP developed the scents for Lovely and Covet couldn't have been written better than her own PR person. Clearly, the author is a fan, and influenced my own positive views about the actress, even though I'm not crazy about the actual scents of Covet or Lovely.
If I hadn't borrowed and read the book, I would not have discovered Jo Malone's great scents at my local Nordstrom's. Now, I'm saving my money to purchase a bottle of Hermes' Un Jardin sur le Nil. But, then again, if it's true that 'Miss Dior' "smells like the armpit of a woman who has not bathed in a week," I can just save my money (and water) and go fragrance-free for the rest of my life. Isn't that good to know?

+1 to the other positive reviewers; I didn't find the story wordy, and I can see that adding more details about the perfumes mentioned in the epilogue would only have delayed the release of this book. Burr probably has another one in him...

Sidebar: My nose has never worked very well; attributed to a bad fall when I was a child. I buy perfume by the box and marketing package and based on response, seem to be getting it right.

Therefore, this story is about a world that's alien to me. I loved Chandler's faith-in-opinion (smells like ****). Mostly, I read this book as a documentation of the creative process, at least as expressed through a commercial product. It's hard to find artists who can speak clearly about how they get from idea to finished product; the big decisions that get made early and the increasingly constrained and refined adjustments along the way; the contribution of deadline and budget to the final product; the changes in thinking and ability that occur across a lifetime.

Four stars not five because it didn't change my life and the library can have their copy back. However, I did find myself buying Burr's Emperor of Scent when it crossed my path at a local used bookstore.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was definitely not a page-turner for me. Rather, I savored it steadily over several weeks. Still, rest assured that this will remain one of my favorite books. By the time I was done with it, I had a huge admiration for both the author and his subjects - both American and French. I attribute this to the skillful writing and crystal-clear honesty of the author. I thought it was wonderful to see discussions end with complete candor when things went "off-record", as well as full disclosure when sensitive topics and "hot" documents were discussed. I admire Burr's journalistic integrity, which is unfortunately an increasingly rare thing these days.

Before reading this book, I was, I will admit, a bit of a Francophobe, with no particular desire to ever set foot there again. Not even finished with the book, my wife and I began planning a family trip there. This is purely a product of the author's sensitive but unforced treatment of his French subjects. As noted in other reviews, he takes pains to provide complete yet flowing translations of French dialogue, which actually makes for a wonderful, engaging read. Many authors would toss out the French with an air of linguistic superiority and force the reader to sink or swim. Instead, Burr clearly wants everybody to get on board the train before it leaves, and it works. Whether it was the author or the editor or both, my hat is off to them.

The book teaches - almost unbeknownst to the reader - an enormous amount about fragrances. As a scientist, I can assure you that he does a marvelous job with the scientific aspects, and that he made even the "old hat" science interesting to me. The history, economics, marketing, and politics of fragrances - about which I know far less - was even more fascinating, and - I have no doubt - just as accurate. And the really neat thing is that he made it so damn interesting. I could almost feel the starched lab coats and smell the test strips, and I wanted to be there.

To my fellow fragranauts (or "fragra-nuts"), I offer this. Before reading this book, I knew next to nothing about the Hermès line of fragrances ("Hermès? The scarf people? You mean, they do fragrances?"). By the time I was done, I was *positive* that I would take a liking to "Terre d'Hermès". Sure enough, when I tested about a dozen newer fragrances in Sephora, I walked out with Terre d'Hermès. If you're a fragrance fetishist like me, this book will talk to you.

Exactly what Burr was up to in his plans for the West will never be perfectly known. Many of his associates destroyed documents because of Burr's trial for treason--the trial of the century involving a Who's Who in the U.S. during the early 19th century. As the author quotes (from William Whichard) "history is only the recorded part of the remembered part of the observed part of what happened." (page 235) Yet public opinion in his time overwhelmingly concluded that Burr, the slayer of Alexander Hamilton, was up to no good. The author wrote this book as a reminder: "...if we are to govern ourselves, we must remember the danger of a brilliant mind driven by frail human needs." (page 236) This book, an excellently written summary of Burr's life much aided by the author's legal expertise, is a call to citizen vigilance against future threats to liberty by brilliant politicians whose motives are far from noble. In the latter half of the 20th Century Americans witnessed such scoundrels in both parties. The author will have achieved his purpose only if we continue to be vigilant by recognizing in our national political choices what Aristotle said long ago: character is destiny.

I am going to have to differ with my fellow reviewers in their opinions both about Melton's book and about Burr himself.

Melton is an attorney and a law professor. He is also the author of another book that I enjoyed a great deal (and have reviewed also): "The First Impeachment." However, I don't feel that Melton's Burr Conspiracy book contributes much to the existing opinions on Burr, the Burr Conspiracy, or the trial.

While the book is well-researched and well-written -- and as a fellow historian, scholar, writer, book author (and also someone with a law degree), I understand the difficulties in doing that and appreciate Melton's work generally -- I have several complaints about this book, which I think are central to the issue of who Burr was and what he was up to. To be fair, my complaint is not solely against Melton but against his sources.

Before I get into my complaints, though, let me mention that the best discussion of the Burr trial I have seen to date is in volume 3 of Albert J. Beveridge's THE LIFE OF JOHN MARSHALL, VOLUME III ONLY.

Melton, as a practitioner of the discipline of law, knows how to find and use primary and secondary source material. However, in this book he relies heavily on Thomas P. Abernethy's Burr Conspiracy, while almost completely ignoring Walter F. McCaleb's book The Aaron Burr Conspiracy. In my view, this is a huge omission, since I feel that McCaleb's book is the most important book on the conspiracy, unraveling as it does many of the mysteries of Burr's intentions in that period.

Secondly, Melton also relied heavily on Dumas Malone's multi-volume biography of Jefferson Jefferson and His Time (Six Volume Set, 1: Jefferson the Virginian, 2: Jefferson and the Rights of Man, 3: Jefferson and the Ordeal of Liberty, 4: Jefferson the President, First Term 1801-1805, 5: Jefferson the President, Second Term 1805-1809, 6: Jeffe.... Malone was a man who excused a great deal of Jefferson's criminal behavior with a virtual wave of the pen and was strongly biased against Burr.

While Melton does also cite to various biographies of Burr (including Parton, Davis, Daniels, Todd, Lomask, Wandell & Minnigerode, and Parmet & Hecht -- nearly all the standard ones) and to Mary-Jo Kline's important collection of Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr (as well as to much other solid primary source material), he does not cite at all to Roger G. Kennedy's ground-breaking, if rambling, book Burr, Hamilton, and Jefferson: A Study in Character.

The reliance on Abernethy and Malone and the failure to study and include McCaleb and Kennedy constitute, for me, a major flaw in Melton's work. I believe this omission leads to a perpetuation of speculations and misconceptions about Burr, and since Melton has more credibility because of his credentials, this lends more weight to the inaccuracies.

Many Amazon reviewers note (as did Melton) that nobody will ever know what Burr's intentions were, that Burr was brilliant and charismatic, that "the best and the brightest are always fallible," that Burr lacked principles, that the bulk of Burr's letters never surfaced, that public opinion at or after Burr's trial "overwhelmingly concluded" that Burr was "up to no good," that the "evidence strongly indicates that [Burr] was the ringleader in a plot to establish an independent nation" in the West, and so on.

I stand alone in my disagreement with each of these statements. I believe Burr's intentions are discoverable. I am tired of hearing that Burr was brilliant and charismatic and lacked principles. Burr was intelligent and charming, but the brilliant/charismatic/unprincipled combination is grossly misleading and is used to justify all manner of unsubstantiated speculation and ill opinion about Burr.

The evidence does not "strongly indicate" that Burr was a "ringleader" in a "plot to establish an independent nation." Burr was merely one in a line of many -- including, by the way, Alexander Hamilton, and many others who were supported by Jefferson (both before and during his presidency) and his successors -- who wanted to "liberate" Spanish Mexico (and possibly even South American states), which included at the time, New Orleans.

Burr's plan was, if there was a U.S. declaration of war against Spain, to invade and liberate. He later said that Jefferson had sanctioned this plan. Absent such a declaration, Burr planned to make a (perfectly lawful) settlement north of New Orleans. The rest of his "intrigues" with agents of Britain and France were mere efforts to obtain funding (see McCaleb on this). He told those people what they wanted to hear.

Many before Burr had sought or obtained foreign funding for such expeditions(including George Rogers Clark, mentioned below, and U.S. Senator William Blount, whose enterprise some say VP Jefferson was secretly supporting). None were brought up on charges of treason. Some Westerners were even in Spanish pay -- including Jefferson's saw, James Wilkinson, and other eminent western citizens who were trusted by several Presidents -- and none were charged with treason.

But even if Burr did want to establish an independent nation, Jefferson himself had once verbally sanctioned the separation of the West from the East and the former's independence from the United States. On this issue, Burr was really on the tail end of a long line of westerners who wanted independence from the U.S. -- or who already felt they were independent. This included George Rogers Clark who was sponsored by then Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson on various covert missions, including an unlawful exploration of what was then the Spanish west. (See Kennedy's book.)

Much of Burr's personal correspondence apparently went down with his daughter at sea, but this was NOT MOST of his correspondence. There are 11 reels of microfilm of Burr's letters and another 16 reels that contain his orderly books, journal, and court documents.

Public opinion about Burr during the trial was not overwhelmingly against him. In fact, he had a tremendous amount of popular support, but with a President as your enemy, few friends will risk their careers to ally with you. Thus, friends who believed in him were afraid to stand up for him.

After all, Jefferson declared Burr guilty and ordered (or supported Willkinson in ordering) him to be taken dead or alive before his arrest or trial occurred.

While Burr may be the most famous of those Jefferson persecuted, Burr was not the only one whose life was ruined by Jefferson (or Wilkinson, for that matter -- and in this case, Burr had both men plotting against him, both knowing they were unjustifiably and illegally doing so). The full story of all Jefferson's victims has not yet been written, but for those interested in exploring the issue, I suggest David Leon Chandler's The Jefferson Conspiracies: A President's Role in the Assassination of Meriwether Lewis and Leonard W. Levy Jefferson and Civil Liberties: The Darker Side as well as Kennedy's book mentioned above. See also Richard Zacks The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805.

Wilkinson's victims, by the way, included several assassinations and/or attempted assassinations.

Like the story of Jefferson and Wilkinson's many victims, Burr's story has not yet been fully written. While he was certainly a complex man, and while his "conspiracy" confusingly led in several directions at once, both the man and the story are discoverable. I hope one day to contribute further to these understandings, but in the meantime, I hope readers can separate fact from mere speculation or inference, including such as arises out of reliance on biased sources, which is the case in Melton's otherwise well-done book.

Jennifer Van Bergen, J.D.
Author of The Twilight of Democracy: The Bush Plan for America and Archetypes for Writers: Using the Power of Your Subconscious.
See also my legal articles:
(1) Aaron Burr and the Electoral Tie of 1801: Strict Constitutional Construction
(2) In the Absence of Democracy: The Designation and Material Support Provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Laws"
(3) The Dangerous World of Indefinite Detentions: Vietnam to Abu Ghraib
all available at www.jvbline.org.

Aaron Burr will always remain a mystery since it's never totally clear what his intentions were when he went west to join a band of men traveling south to join the commanding General of the U.S. Armies, James Wilkinson, in a complex plot. However, Melton enjoins his own legal expertise to not only provide a history of Burr's western misadventure but to also analyze the courtroom proceedings that involved the greatest attorneys at that time including Burr himself. The trial was before Supreme Court Justice Marshall who was also doubling as a circuit judge in Virginia. This is a very confusing story since Burr whose political career was ruined by Jefferson and Hamilton; the duel does not help either, goes west to coordinate or participate in separating the west or getting involved with a filibuster to take over Spanish held territory much like George Rodgers Clark attempted before and Jackson and Houston later succeeded. Burr seems very erratic in trying to solicit support from France and England while working with the virtual double agent James Wilkinson. Melton does well explaining the complex relationship between the men and does an excellent job in explaining the complexities of the unique trial and the involvement of Jefferson. However, no one can quite get a definitive handle on what Burr's ultimate plan was. What is missing from all books on Burr is a study of Burr from a psychological point of view. Burr achieved a period of political greatness in spite of losing his parents and grandparents while only a toddler and he partakes on his misadventure not too long after his wife dies and his political career is crushed. One must wonder if Burr would have gotten so involved had his wife survived. Burr; however, was kind to his friends and children after rebounding from poverty and Melton provides this interesting epilogue that makes one wonder if Burr's life might have made a better turn had his domestic situation been more solid when his political career vaporized.

This very readable book outlines the Burr Conspiracy. Burr was handsome, charismatic, brilliant, and from one of the foremost families of colonial America; a Revolutionary War hero and Lt. Colonel under Washington. Burr was one of the most famous lawyers, Attorney-General of NY, US Senator, and VP to Jefferson. But those that knew him considered him an "unprincipled villain". This book is an overview of Burr's life and the Conspiracy - an alleged attempt to create a new republic from the western territories of the US. Burr was a genius or hero like Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Marshall, or others. They were all important, and all had their flaws. The best and the brightest are always fallible humans; this book is a reminder (p.236). That is the ever-present reason for checks and balances in government, and a limited term for Chief Executives in state and federal governments. The Charge of Treason against Burr is similar to the conflicts that arose in newly liberated countries in the 20th century. The Trial kept people's attention for nearly a year. Burr was found 'not guilty' but his political career was still ruined.

King George's edict banning settlements west of the Appalachians was one of the causes of the Revolution. The population growth of the Americans was as feared as their arms (p.11). The dangerous life of the squatters who preceded the settlers is described on pages 11-12. The Western Waters were hemmed in by the mountains to the east, the lakes in the north, and the Spanish Empire on the south. The latter was the only possible shipping outlet. An earlier conspiracy was exposed; US Senator William Blount was impeached and expelled. Later he became Governor of Tennessee.

Part Two traces Burr's rise to power and fame from his skills as a lawyer. Burr the lawyer stayed on good terms with both the Federalist and Republicans; this made him both powerful and loathed (p.32). Burr's strength was his popular support in New York and elsewhere (p.33). But his downfall began when he didn't give way to Jefferson in 1800; this antagonized his strongest ally. Page 63 explains Marshall's strategy in Marbury vs. Madison. After his term as VIce-President ended Burr moved westward. Burr was popular there for slaying Hamilton, their Federalist enemy (p.78). Burr was linked with the Yazoo land swindlers (p.87). General William Eaton learned of Burr's plan to gain the marine corps and naval commanders to overthrow Congress, assassinate the President, and become ruler (p.94). Burr planned to attack both Mexico and the Union. General James Wilkinson saw he could gain more by denouncing Burr, and did so (p.122). If Burr could be silenced Wilkinson would be a hero (p.145).

Leading citizens composed the Grand Jury that indicted Burr. When Wilkinson showed up with a letter Burr asked for his arrest for mail theft! This was ruled irrelevant since it happened in another jurisdiction. Burr and others were indicted for treason (p.189). Jury selection was as important then (pp.196-8). The jury found Burr 'not guilty' because the charge wasn't proven (p.216). Also 'not guilty' of violating the Neutrality Act (p.218). His most serious problems were the suits to recover loans (p.219). Burr escaped by fleeing to Europe for years. He returned to New York in 1812 and practiced law, living in obscurity. Burr died in 1836, months after the Battle of San Jacinto (p.233) which seemed to justify his dreams of expansion into the southeast. Perhaps in today's world he would be as famous and successful as other smiley-faced politicians? His lack of any principles suggests this (p.233).

Who was Aaron Burr? Everyone knows that he was Vice President of the United States and the man who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. We all learn this in our high school history class. What we don't learn in our history class is presented here, in this book, a book that is chock for of information about a man who we are not taught enough about.

After the duel with Hamilton, Burr's political worth declined drastically. He and Jefferson were at odds and his career seemed to be over. He went west for many reasons and this is the story of what transpired, as best we can tell. Unfortunately Aaron Burr was not survived by much correspondence. Unlike Jefferson and Adams, the bulk of Burr's letters have never surfaced.

Aaron Burr was put on trial for treason. An unlikely charge against a former Vice President but times were different and Burr's actions at the time left many questions as to what he was actually trying to accomplish. He was rallying disenters in the land west of the Appalachian Mountains for some reason. He talked of invading Mexico but there was also other options. Invading Spanish Florida? To rein as King over his own country once he helped the western territories rebel against Washington DC and secede from the Union? We don't know for sure.

We do know that Burr talked to British diplomats trying to get the British Navy to help him by blocking the port of New Orleans. He tried to get US Military commanders to help him take over the city of New Orleans. What was it that he was really up to? While we may never know for sure this book goes an awful long way toward explaining many of the questions that you may have.

Filled with many of the outstanding names in history, offering insight into their character as well as their role in defending the United States, or involved in the conspiracy with Burr. See where they stand. Cheif Justice John Marshall, future President Andrew Jackson, current President Thomas Jefferson, future President James Madison, Francis Scott Key, Army Generals and Territorial Governors. In the end, Aaron Burr was found not guilty and faded away into history. But he left a legacy of hate and confusion.

This book was very interesting but at times did read like a history book. If that is not your cup of tea you may want to think twice. But th book was very good at explaining the details of Burr's actions. Where he was at, what he was doing and who he was meeting with. The book didn't have the flair of "Founding Fathers" but it is non the less worth the price. If you are in to history you will love this book.

Britt Montero is a half-Cuban newspaper reporter living in Miami. Britt claims to resent too much being made of her Cuban heritage, but focuses on little else, and the other half of her heritage doesn't even rate mention. While Britt is onto a big story about missing boys who all look alike, and tries to devote her time to gathering information for it, her personal life and Cuban roots keep getting in the way. She finally decides to take the time to delve into the mysteries of her own past when a prominent Cuban figure who has insisted only Britt may interview him reveals that he once knew her father. He also tells Britt about her father's diary, which supposedly still exists, even 30 years after her father was executed by Castro. Britt becomes even more entangled in Cuban exile politics when another of her father's old pals embroils her in his dramas. It all comes to a head with the arrival of a hurricane, which also ties in with the missing boys from Britt's big story, which answers all of Britt's questions, but leaves some of her issues unsolved.

The things that I disliked about this book are minor. Britt's best bud is a gullible idiot who gives an obvious liar and cheat way too many chances. Britt's either not too bright herself, or just a lousy friend, because she encourages it every time. Then, too much stuff tied together at the end, kind of a 2-for-1 special that would have been better kept separate. Also, Britt didn't solve her mysteries through deductive reasoning, but rather through dumb luck, which isn't my favorite way to see a suspense draw to a close.

While I didn't hate the book, I didn't find much to rave about, either. Britt is likeable enough, but doesn't have anything about her that stands out. She's not incredibly funny or clever, the side characters aren't all that special, and nothing particularly amazing happens. It's just sort of...vanilla. The story was good enough not to bore me, but not compelling enough to meke me pick up the book if I had something else I could do instead. It's just another selection from another mystery series with a female lead. Some people who really love books like that will likely love this one, but I like something with a little more oomph. I won't recoil in horror when I see Edna Buchanan books for sale, but I won't be knocking anyone over to get at them, either.

Like the author once did, Britt Montero thrives as a driven, resourceful crime reporter for steamy Miami's major daily. But the car-bombing of a Cuban journalist gives her job an uncomfortably personal dimension and perhaps it's that which compels her to look into an old missing-boy case for a distraught parent. Montero's digging uncovers a disturbing pattern of similar-looking missing boys, all thought to be runaways and given short shrift by the police.

But Montero is taken off the story in order to conduct an interview with a difficult leader of the Cuban-American community. Half-Cuban herself and long feeling an empathy with her dead freedom-fighter father, Montero accepts the assignment unwillingly but finds Juan Carlos Reyes intriguing.

Unbeknownst to her, Reyes knew her parents. He claims to have a diary of her father's somewhere in storage and promises to find it for her. Montero's mother suddenly refuses to speak to her and another old Cuban, a blustery fighter still trying to mount an invasion, tells a different story about the diary, tying it into the journalist's bombing murder.

The two story lines unfold in parallel as a killer hurricane (which Montero ignores) summons strength for an attack on Miami. Buchanan brings it all together in a splintering, action-packed conclusion featuring mayhem, murder and gruesome revelation. A fast-paced story, determined, likable heroine and rich Miami setting.

For the record, I am reviewing this book as a book on tape. The dastardly plots amongst the Cuban exile community keeps this book racing along. Unfortunately, the soap opera of Britt's erratic love life slowed the story down. Nevertheless, it is a good book and I gladly recommend it.

As for the book on tape aspect - it was very well read, including pretty good accents for the aging Cuban conspirators. Good job.

This book has it all -- murder, kidnapping, political prisoners, mother/daughter conflicts and even an Act of God. Once the action starts, it doesn't stop. I have a few small quibbles with the book (for instance, the crime that starts the book is never fully explained), but it doesn't really detract from your enjoyment. Best of all, I liked Britt. Her frustration about her story of a lifetime getting pushed to the back burner really rang true with me.

Buchanan's Britt Montero is a tough independent woman--which is always nice to see but her relationship with her fictional partners is weird. In ACT OF BETRAYAL, the reader is never privy to why Montero and McDonald's relationship is on and off. Furthermore, the author never allows the reader to glimpse, in any depth, what goes on in Montero's brain after the unexpected meeting of the two men in her life. I noticed the same lack of depth in MARGIN OF ERROR--as far as whoever Montero's present heart throb happened to be. The romances are sort of eruptive and then dormant. In addition to a lack of depth in part of Montero's character, a lack of depth was evident in other parts of the book. For instance, I found the reason behind Reyes' perversion to be very weak and unsatisfying. I also found that the plot would ebb and flow with too much detail and then not enough. The plot would nearly stumble and then rush to finish.

I bought this book based largely on other reviewers. If you are a someone who really gets into the minutia of family names connected to Burr and Hamilton, this book is for you. The author also makes the assumption (and says so in the introduction) that the reader understands the basic history of the events. The casual reader of history may not make it through this book, getting lost in the detailed connections of various relatives of Burr and Hamilton. There are fascinating revelations and speculations unearthed, making it a decent book.

Based on facts little known or revealed elsewhere
Clark, the author, advances a theory novel to American
History that Aaron Burr was a loyalist throughout his
life, even during the Revolutionary War, wherein he is
most commonly thought an American hero. Using
genealogy, land deeds and leases Clark finds
connections to the British hitherto ignored by
Historians. This book is not a rehash of current
accepted American history. His interpretation of
Aaron Burr's own coded letters in his published
Memoirs fall in neatly with this theory. He gives new
political meaning to the duel between Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton beyond a trifling slight. He even
points the reader toward an interpretation of current
events with roots in the Loyalist American cause.
This book will make you think that history may still
be ripe for reinterpretation.

I read this book through in one sitting because it covered strikingly different ground from that in standard history books. Translating Burr's ciphered letters for the first time and relating them to events of the era, the author has uncovered Burr's collaboration with the British during the Revolution and his subsequent intentions to undermine the fledgling American democracy. Using original land deeds of the era as evidence, the author presents a powerful rationale for Burr's misdeeds. This is a thought provoking work to read and discuss with others who enjoy history and its rogue protagonists.

Based on facts little known or revealed elsewhere
Clark, the author, advances a theory novel to American
History that Aaron Burr was a loyalist throughout his
life, even during the Revolutionary War, wherein he is
most commonly thought an American hero. Using
genealogy, land deeds and leases Clark finds
connections to the British hitherto ignored by
Historians. This book is not a rehash of current
accepted American history. His interpretation of
Aaron Burr's own coded letters in his published
Memoirs fall in neatly with this theory. He gives new
political meaning to the duel between Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton beyond a trifling slight. He even
points the reader toward an interpretation of current
events with roots in the Loyalist American cause.
This book will make you think that history may still
be ripe for reinterpretation.

In essence, Alan Clark's book is one big gossip column. The only difference between his work and those of other gossip mongers in our nation's periodicals is that the latter know how to write a coherent sentence, properly punctuated and generally void of misspellings. Of course, they must submit to the discipline of editors and they usually write for reputable publishers who demand that quotations be checked, that facts be accurate and that documentation be provided. Clark does not concern himself with any of these things. His book is a self-published, printed-on-demand product, a growing part of the "listen to me" industry that also includes personal websites known as blogs.

When this book came out it caused a bit of a stir. However, as the editors note, a careful review of the material actual tends toward moderation. Supporters can see a bit to criticize and the critics can see things aren't quite as black as they had supposed. I found the transcripts to be fascinating because we get to read conversations that were the subject of much debate and speculation for the past several decades.

However, transcripts are subject to several issues. First, they are all in English. We do not know what the original Russian, Chinese, or what have you in order to see what the translation may have missed in nuance or simply gotten wrong. Second, transcripts are only as good as the transcriber and some of the conversations were put together well after the fact, so the question stands, do we really have an exact transcription of the conversations. Third, while the editor does his best to provide very good context for the transcript and compares what is said to other sources such as Kissinger's memoirs, we do not have all of the context that went into setting up the meeting and the private thoughts of the parties prior to and after the conversations transcribed. So, what is said is still subject to misinterpretation by inferring incorrectly the intent of the various parties to these conversations.

These concerns aside, I find this a very valuable and useful reference to certain key events during both Nixon administrations. The cover photo is a bit too cute. A black and white photo of a somber Kissinger with, what, rose colored glasses (the Red of the communists coloring his world? A too optimistic view of the communists?) with one lens displaying a faint hammer and cycle of the Soviets and the other the Chinese star.

Study and enjoy.

These top secrets talks between Washington, directed by Kissinger at all, China and Rusia are like those ( not at all) that took place in the 19th century Europe to build what was known as the Congress of Vienna in 1815, and also created the so called "balance of power" that kept all power nations out of war. Kissinger as Secretary of State in the Nixon-Ford era took in his hands the priority to create that "balance of power" between China, Rusia and USA, that was called "detente" and kept out the fear from a possible nuclear war all over the world. These transcrips show how the negotiations that conducted Kissinger during that time were conducted between China and Rusia, and also show how well he kept the fear out from a confrontation from the foreign policy of the United States.

Individuals indeed can change the world, as evidenced by some of the transcripts in this excellent collection of original documents. William Burr has delivered an important record of the actions of the principle actors during the United States' shift from Kennan-inspired containment policy to balance-of-power politics.

Reaping the benefits of the Freedom of Information Act and declassification projects at the federal agencies responsible for U.S. foreign policy, Burr and his colleagues at the National Security Archive project at George Washington University have brought us the raw, unadulterated truths surrounding the diplomacy behind Nixon's detente with the Soviet Union and rapprochement with China. Gems such as the momentous first meeting of Nixon and Mao with Zhou Enlai and Kissinger in attendance cannot be missed.

Excellent primary source material with copious notes from Burr. A must-have for anyone interested in Kissinger and his relationships with Nixon, Mao and Brezhnev.

Although much of Burr's analysis leaves a lot to be desired, this book is a must have for a first hand look at Kissinger's diplomatic legacy. There is still much information that has not been declassified and therefore _The Kissinger Transcripts_ presents only a partial picture at best, but Burr's compilation is well worth the effort to see Kissinger's many different diplomatic faces show themselves as he deals with different characters such as Mao, Brezhnev, Zhou Enlai, Gromyko, Deng Xiaoping and others. It is truly fascinating to examine the different rhetorical tactics employeed by Kissinger to suit his particular audience. Incidentally, this bit of genius appears to be lost upon Burr, and others too, who view these many Kissinger faces with a seeming lack of understanding and even think of it as somewhat contradictory. The guiding theme when examined as a whole, however, is that Kissinger worked toward the improvement of the position of the United States in the world power structure. There is no doubt that the opening of China, coupled with Kissinger's deft Middle East diplomacy, did just that. These transcripts shed some much needed light on the operations of perhaps the United States' greatest executor of foreign policy.

The lengths to which Kissinger went to recruit the Chinese on the American side in the Cold War are instructive to those who believe that America played its cards well on the international arena in the Cold War. Much of the story that William Burr has pieced together--quite admirably in my opinion--is sad reading from the American point of view. Less so, of course, from the Chinese perspective. At points, it is easy to forget which of the parties was the superpower, and which the third world nation rising from internal turmoil, economic collapse and a severely hostile international situation. It is particularly instructive to read this book in context of the question of dealing with China, a problem which America has grappled with fitfully over the past two decades. The roots of Chinese suspicion of "peaceful evolution" and "engagement" lie in their recollection of the avid wooing of China in the 1970s.

On a local note, for the Asian reader, Kissinger's views on dealing with the Indian subcontinent are also instructive, including his open willingness to pressurise India in the Bangladesh crisis. In general terms, the Nixon administration's bias was perceived in India, and has been one of the reasons for the difficult relationship between India and USA in the 1970s and early 1980s. This book only provides proof of that less-than-subtle 'tilt'.

This book is invaluable reference material to all students of international relations, even if it is used as a "how-not-to" manual. The only gripe is the shoddy proof reading, with typos and inconsistent romanisation of Chinese names. But that is a small price to pay for this excellent piece of research.

Buy this book, you won't regret it.

I'm an avid mystery/suspense reader and a friend recommended Edna Buchanan. This was the first book that I read by her and I loved it. It was well written and interesting and perfect for a summer read.

Buchanan, former multiple-award-winning crime reporter for the Miami Herald, enjoying a second successful career as an author, has created a fiesty, indefatigable Miami crime reporter in her heroine, Britt Montero. Montero, a Cuban-American, makes her second appearance in this 1994 novel, which juggles three different crime plots in the steamy atmosphere of mid-summer Miami.

Montero, whose lonely personal life is never going to get better as long as the job comes first, investigates a series of apt accidents, a serial rapist, and the 20-year old unsolved sex murder of a little girl. Plot lines come to the fore and recede into the background in a natural flow depending on Montero's attention.

The child's murder haunts an old cop friend, now dying of heart disease, who believes the hot new candidate for governor is the perp. Montero needles the candidate and interviews the child's family in her spare time.

Meanwhile, the rapist grows more violent and spooky with every success. Montero follows his trail from the police lab to her aunt's Santeria rituals, prying information from the police and piecing together articles which infuriate the rapist and make her a target.

And accidents keep happening to people who couldn't deserve them more.

Montero stays on top of the action, although she doesn't scoop the police completely, which is a nice touch. The newsroom, with its often conflicting interests and strained relationships with police, politicians and each other, crackles with energy.

Buchanan's Miami sizzles and Montero takes us to parts of her city no tourist will ever see.

This book is filled with nonstop action. As one story seems to be resolved, Britt finds herself sliding into another one. And it's handled credibly; it DOES seem like all part of a day's work for our very believable heroine. This is the second book I've read from the series, and I highly recommend it.

Buchanan obviously likes Miami, and it comes through in her writing. She worked as a reporter for many years, and that experience also comes across in this novel. The two main story lines are interesting and do not detract from one another. The pace is quick, the action is exciting, the dialogue is real and the plots twists kept my interest from beginning to end.

All Edna Buchanan fans eagerly wait for the return of her ace protagonist, Britt Montero, the Cuban-American classy, sassy reporter who won readers in "Contents Under Pressure".

A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with the Miami Herald, Buchanan knows of what she writes, and she pens it with thrills, chills, and excitement aplenty. With "Miami, It's Murder," Britt is investigating a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. Now, add a dash of murder which may implicate a contender in the governor's race, athen toss in a soupcon of a maniac who assaults career women in downtown Miami.

The suspense mounts as we whip around the curves of this roller coaster web of clues, mystery, and shenanigans.

Buchanan writes of Miami and mayhem as no one else can. If you're a mystery fan, settle into an easy chair, pick up this sure fire page-turner, and be prepared for an "oh-my-gosh" conclusion.

This is an excellent copy of an investment classic. VERY happy with the seller, the shipping and packaging were superb. Thanks again!

This book laid the foundation of business valuation for making investment decisions using the technique we now call Discounted Cash Flow. The fundamental idea of the book is that a business is worth the dividends it will pay in its entire lifetime, discounted at an appropriate interest rate. This idea of true or intrinsic investment value was proposed earlier by other authors, but it was developed and matured in this book. These days many companies do not pay dividends but the underlying principle of valuation is the same.

I found this book interesting because it is a rigorous derivation of the mathematical formulas used in valuation. I also consider it a masterpiece because of the intense insight of the author, which goes way beyond most of the modern day economists and investors. In fact, this is probably the most impressive book on investing I have studied. But it takes effort to read, requires good mathematical skills, and as it is posed as a scientific thesis it does not lend itself well to practitioners looking for a quick how-to guide.

So in spite of this book being an impressive intellectual achievement I have deducted one star in its rating, because it is certainly not for everyone and there are more recent books which will serve the general investor audience better.

A fantastic accomplishment. All investors should study this book to learn the real value of a stock.

The Theory of Investment Value is clearly an important work, as reflected in Benjamin Graham's citations to it and the prevalence of the dividend discount model in valuing stocks. The theories expounded in this book are of particular import to those to seek to by stock at a value less than the intrinsic value of a company as they determine it to be.

The book itself initially appears intimidating, as there are a lot of mathematical equations, but in reality, the math is nothing more than simple algebra, mostly different models related to computing dividend values going forward.

I found the book to be an interesting read, but it is highly theoretical in nature. The central theme of the book is that stocks are worth the present value of their dividends, paid in perpetuity. It does not discuss earnings manipulation, effect of dilution, securities with superior or inferior claim to payment, etc. Moreover, as Graham points out in Security Analysis, companies that have a high return on invested capital would be well advised to reinvest their profits, while less successful companies would be better off paying higher dividends (relative to book value). This would, of course, tend to make the practical application Williams' theory somewhat complicated, insofar as it makes computing future dividends more difficult.

Readers looking for a more practical guide to valuing stocks might be better served reading Securities Analysis by Benjamin Graham, or any number of more "practical" books related to stock market analysis, particularly as those analyzing financial statements to determine the intrinsic value of a company. Some readers might also find "The Aggressive Conservative Investor" by Marty Whitman and Martin Shubik to be a good read for a competing view, since the authors of that book take the position that, with respect to non-controlling shareholders, a company's stock is worth the net after-tax cash that they expect to realize in the future, whether from dividends, liquidating events, etc. However, if a reader is truly interested in obtaining an understand of how dividends affect stock prices, the book is a worthy read.

This is probably one of the oldest, if not the first, serious academic works on valuation. The coverage is highly theoretical compared to the more practical valuation books of today (dividends are used instead of free cash flow, continuous time is used instead of discrete time, and "cookie cutter" product cycle scenarios are presented instead of more complex business forecasting).

The real value of this dissertation-turned-book though is its general insights. Although Warren Buffett doesn't tout this book as often as Graham's "Intelligent Investor", you will find that he utilizes the insights from this book almost as frequently.

Robert Stephenson-Padron
MSc student (economics & finance)
University of Navarra, Spain

The beginning of this book was a bit of a disappointment. Britt befriends someone you know she shouldn't, and you just feel like shaking her. After all, Britt is a savvy gal, it's hard to believe she didn't sense what we instantly know. Once you get past that initial hiccup, though, this book really takes off. The subplots all tie together nicely and the plot suddenly but realistically goes off in a direction I never could have predicted. It's also nice to see old law-and-order Britt become a bit more sympathetic to the plight of the accused. This lends texture to her character.

I found this book to be better written than most of the similiar books on the market. Her story line progressed well, the multiple plots tied together excently and the crime was believable. I admire Buchanan's style.

This book was fantastic - you did NOT know what to expect! It really got you into the storyline- I didn't want to put the book down - really great!

Edna Buchanan has captured the essence of Miami with her protagonist, reporter Brit Montero. This book was especially great fun. A brash young reporter tries to upstage Brit at the newspaper. She is quite successful. Brit is there with Lottie her friend and Kendall MacDonald. This is a great fun series by Edna Buchanan.

Constructed much like a police procedural, Suitable For Framing is the third outing for Britt Montero, ace crime reporter for the Miami Herald, oops, Miami News. As the book opens, Montero is pursuing the story of a trio of teenage car-jackers terrorizing the city by shooting drivers of late-model luxury cars gratuitously in the knee and dropping them by the side of the road. The cars then vanish.

That night it becomes more personal when Montero herself witnesses a car-jacking that goes wrong - resulting in the killing of a baby and the maiming of its mother. Persistent as a hound on the scent, Montero tracks down one of the carjackers and discovers he's a salvageable homeless kid with a crack-addicted mother. But under Florida law, all those present at a crime resulting in murder are guilty of murder.

Meanwhile Montero finds time to pause and help a rookie colleague - a would-be reporter stuck in the paper's library, go-getter Trish Tierney. With Montero's help Trish soon lands a general assignment job in the newsroom and quickly shows herself to be smart, grateful and a good cook to boot.

And crime doesn't stop just because Montero's hot on a trail. Body parts are found in a downtown demolition site, a child disappears, a sinkhole swallows traffic. And Montero misses a major story - the biggest political scandal in years - scooped by Trish.

Soon Trish is hogging more and more of Montero's limelight and the veteran reporter's suspicions sound like petty jealousy. As the story lines converge on a startling climax, Montero finds herself in danger of losing more than her job.

Buchanan keeps up a breakneck pace, as Montero exploits police sources, goes along on chases, tracks leads into Miami's seamiest neighborhoods and delivers plenty of steamy Miami atmosphere. A top-notch thriller.