Biography Books

I loved Water for Elephants so much that I had to read about more elephants. This is a fast read but very worthwhile.

I loved being able to get the books so quickly and in topnotch condition especially since they were not available in local bookstores

The true story of Bob and his good natured Amy. It is a wonderful read for anyone who loves animals but Amy's story did not really end the way the book implies. Instead, Amy resides at Riddle's Elephant & Wildlife Sanctuary in Arkansas. I don't believe the author intentionally misleads the reader but I think the plans just fell through in the end and everyone decided it was best. I saw first-hand the excellent care and freedom she is given at Riddle's and approve whole-heartedly of the true ending.

This is the best pet story ever. It begins with a baby elephant whose life's destiny was altered several times, most noticeably when it crossed paths with Bob Norris. I rejoiced in the absolute miracles in this book, and really cried at the sad moments. But the ending was superb, and I was tempted to call Bob Norris and tell him myself how much I loved his story. I have never been more impressed by a relationship between a man and his pet than by this book. Bob Norris is a remarkable person. You will not regret buying this book!

I loved this book. My 7 year old loves elephants and although this is a bit over her reading level, I got it for her and ended up reading for myself. It is a wonderful story about a female elephant and her rescue from Africa, then her tales of growing up on a ranch out west in the U.S. It is a fascinating story about African elephant life, the rancher who adopted her, Texaco, Malboro, African politics, and circus life all rolled into the unusual story of an elephant named Amy. I had no idea elphants were socially such advanced creatures. Plus, I got so much information in such a quick and easy read. Thanks to Malcolm Macpherson for his well researched story.

Daddy Was a Bad Boy by Floriana Hall

This is a small book, written in a matter-of-fact style, but it packs a punch. This is essentially an autobiography though the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Despite the adversity they face, the character of these people shines through brightly. It's a true story that most of us would find difficult to believe; a story of a man with an insatiable appetite for sex, a huge, hungry ego and the selfishness of a sociopath. It is also the story of the fourteen children he sired by 3 different, simultaneous wives. Yes, he was a bigamist, a philanderer and an incestuous child molester, and they called him Daddy. Surprisingly, with numerous moves, many days of empty bellies, and a few articles of clothing, the love of their heroic mother(s) kept these children on the straight and narrow. They found happiness where they could, excelled in school, worked to support the family and tried hard to be very different from their Daddy. There is something quite compelling about this story, and I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day, anxious to get back to the book to find out what would next happen in the lives of these seemingly normal, middle-American people. I would recommend this book to anyone - it is a trip back to "the old days" but reveals that under that wholesome appearance, many families may have been similarly dysfunctional in a time when certain things just weren't talked about.

After reading "Daddy was a bad boy" I could only marvel at the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity as portrayed by the author. I also grew up during the depression so I know what it's like to be unsure of the next meal. Although frequently out of work during the mid thirties, my daddy was loyal to his family and never strayed. I can only imagine the anxiety and insecurity of a young child denied the reassurance of a father during times of stress. I can relate to Floriana's book since my mother survived a similiar situation with a
physically abusive father who was derelict in his paternal duties. Just like Floriana, my mother rose above her early hardships and disappointments and lived a useful, productive and happy life.I admire the courage it took to write such a book.I recommend this book to anyone who harbors resentments for past injustices. It will help them accept the past and move on ---- CAJ

Floriana Hall is one of a generation of great tale-tellers. Born on October 2, 1927, just before the start of the Great Depression, Floriana's generation is of the last to remember growing up and enduring incredible hardship and poverty in this country. To add to her family's privation was the philandering and deceiving nature of her father. DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is Floriana's story.

Floriana's family was no stranger to hard times, many days eating only bread smeared with lard and sprinkled with sugar. At times when her father, the sole bread-winner of the family, was missing for days, weeks, or months on end, Floriana watched her mother go without meals to ensure that the children could eat, or beg for credit simply to buy a loaf of bread. She recalls living in homes with outhouses or homes too small for their family, bread lines and rationing during the war, and even times when she had to endure the harsh and unfair punishments doled out by her stern grandfather.

Still, Floriana managed to enjoy her childhood. Although her family was uprooted frequently, she still managed to maintain top grades, make many friends, and have her fair share of fun. In DADDY WAS A BAD BOY, Floriana recalls such things as listening to radio programs, roller skating and ice skating with friends, and playing the piano.

While DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is a mesmerizing memoir of life growing up in the `20's and `30's, taking the reader all the way to present day, it is made even more so by weaving the tale of Floriana's father, who was uncaring, philandering, and deceitful at best. The reader is able to feel the pain of a family forgotten through Floriana's eyes and ultimately witness the repentance of a sick man through his own letters.

As with most memoirs, the reader must pay close attention to names while reading DADDY WAS A BAD BOY, as family trees tend to tangle together a labyrinth of names that can blur together. Additionally, Hall alternately refers to her father as "Dad" and "Luke" - perhaps highlighting her own ambiguous feelings about just who this man was to her - which can tend to throw off a reader who is not careful. However, the story itself is so compelling, a reader would not likely need worry about not paying close enough attention.

Overall, DADDY WAS A BAD BOY is a gripping tale of a life virtually unknown to most of us today - life before modernization such as TV's, microwave ovens, and frozen dinners - and Floriana Hall a testament to the human spirit. Says Floriana, "All my life, no matter what happened, I never dwelled on the negatives. It's a good thing, as many were to come. But my happy nature, along with prayer and positive thinking, kept me smiling." (p. 11)

No doubt, DADDY WAS A BAD BOY would keep a reader smiling as well.

After reading "Daddy was a bad boy" I marveled at the courage and determination exemplified by the author and her mother who kept the family together despite all adversity. I tried to imagine what it was like to grow up wondering where daddy was and whether we would have enough to eat. My mother, a generation earlier, had a similiar childhood-- abused and deprived of a normal family life she was determined to secure a better life for her children. Floriana's story should serve as a tribute to herself, her mother and the countless women who endured similiar circumstances and refused to let history repeat itself. CAJ

Floriana Hall has written an inspiring story for people of all ages. Her life story shows that life can be worth living, even cheerfully, in spite of poverty or obstacles. Even her father's immoral and irresponsible behavior does not deter her from seeking and achieving happiness. And she has tried to understand and to forgive her father as is evident in Chapter 26 where she has included his letters and commented on them.
Her book shows that she has always had an excellent sense of humor, has made friends easily, and enjoyed life in spite of real hunger and hardships.
As I read her book, I was reminded of the novel and movie "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith; it first appeared in the 1940s. Both Betty Smith and Floriana Hall reveal that material goods are not necessary for happiness; you can be poor and and still be happy. And you can live through tragedies and adversity and still be happy. Floriana's positive outlook on life and her Christian values have enabled her to do so. But there is much more spirit and life in her book than I can tell in a few words. It's well written, down to earth, homey, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it

I love Michael Jackson. Every fan should have this book, it means so much to experience his literary voice. He is so good at putting the right sounds together that I enjoy reading his poetry out loud. If you're a fan, get it. Just do.

I've loved this book ever since I checked it out from the library years ago. Now, I finally own it and I read it almost every day. The writings are very deep and insightful, and the pictures are beautiful. (My favorite pic is on page 62. :D) If you're an MJ fan you HAVE to have this book, or at least read it at the library or something.

Dancing the dream is a glimpse into the soul of Michael Jackson. It's a must have for any fan. It gives you a MUCH MUCH MUCH better idea of who he is than his 'autobiography' Moonwalk (which was little more than a recounting of his career). This book shows you the idealistic, perhaps naive, and sometimes sappy core of Michael.

If you're looking for the world's best poetry or writings, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a glimpse of Michael Jackson's heart, if you want to escape the harsh realities of everyday life and indulge in the idealistic dreams of someone who genuinely looks for the good in the world, then this is the book for you.

Any time I'm feeling down, I can always pick up this book and read a few pages and it always makes me feel better :)

After checking it out from the library, reading it twice, and not wanting to return it, I had to have my own copy, which I just received (used) from this site.

It is truly inspiring and I will undoubtedly read through it many times in the days and years to come when I'm feeling down and need a lift in my spirit.

Best 8 bucks I've spent in many moons.

This book is truly amazing and has so much insight on different things. You see Michael in a completely different light. It was almost like it was written directly for me. It had everything that i needed/wanted to hear, especially about trust and courage and even about the love of God. It was like it was direct advice to me personally. I like this book so much that i think anybody would enjoy it. It's so beautiful. You really get to see his pain and what's going on inside his head and i think if everyone read it, they would be like, "Wait, Michael Jackson wrote all of these?" He's so talented and i love him even more after reading this book. By the way, the pictures are great, i love them all!

I have always admired Marcia Wallace. Although I was not around to see the original broadcasts of the "Newhart Show", she made a permanent impression on me through the countless hours of reruns that I've seen over the years. She has endlessly been called a 'one trick pony' - inasmuch as she is only really known for one role, that of Carol Kester Bondurant on the "Newhart Show". And Marcia herself admits that she has never really gotten good reviews for any of her other work (save of course for the also iconoclastic Ms. Edna Krubappel voicethrowing that she's done on "The Simpsons" for years.) Nonetheless, the character of Carol was a significant contribution to television history. She was very much her own person, and Marcia's comedic talents made her unforgettable. Carol Burnett, a genius herself, has said that 'if you're too pretty, you can't be a comedian.' Such was the case with Marcia. No, she wasn't that attractive - but she had a perfect look that lent itself perfectly, even if it was only for that one role. She never even had to read for the part - she was hired instantly by MTM Enterprises.

Marcia's life has indeed been a rocky one - and the tone of this book is fine. She's a survivor and she isn't full of self pity. Despite the rags, she's gotten plenty of riches, which included a brief marriage to a man who was very much the one-and-only for her, and a great kid.
However, I think the book overly emphasizes her marriage, the adoption of their son, and her husband's subsequent death. Virtually no details are given about her work on the "Newhart Show", "The Simpsons", or much of anything else. And in that regard, the book is a disappointment.
If these things were added, it would be an absolutely killer book.
Hopefully someday a second edition will be done. Nonetheless, what is presented is a very enjoyable read.

Marcia Wallace-what can be said? She is a woman on the umpteenth wit and full of honesty, always saved from being too sorrowful with her God-given ability to bring humor to situations that would bring the regular person to their knees...but Marcia isn't one of those "regular" people. I love this book because it tells anyone, no matter what circumstances they find themselves in, with a bit of keen-sighted observations and an always open pot of humor, they can achieve all of their dreams one day at a time.

I just finished reading Marcia Wallace's autobiography. This is an incredible read. She opens the door to her life for us as if she were opening the door to her closest confident and friend. I laughed out loud at her many mishaps and cried during the deepest loss a person can experience. This is a great gift for anyone who has had cancer touch his or her life, and who hasn't. It is also a celebration of life, friendship and family. This is a wonderful gift to share with girlfriends of all ages.

This book is NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER material. Marcia Wallace's book is as deeply profound as it is silly. It doesn't matter if nothing or everything has happended to you in your lifetime, you will relate to the humanity in her stories.
The book is bursting with self empowerment and triumph over tragedy and it's one of the funniest books I've ever read.

Look, if everyone who wrote a memoir was a literary writer, would we all be devouring memoirs like we are? Heck no--we've already heard that story. Marcia's story is... well, it's not your typical, 'here's-my-life-as-an-actress' kind of story. Marcia acknowledges indirectly that who we are has a lot to do not only with where we came from but also what we've been through. And heaven knows, she's been through a lot. But somehow she manages to remain a genuinely sincere person who seems to have a rainbow hovering quite near her at all times--something I will now try to be aware of in my own life after reading her book. Unlike many memoirs currently on the market, this is not an outpouring of self-absorbed angst (as it would be if I were writing it). It's a riotous celebration of the absurdity of human life and the power of the human spirit to triumph against all odds. Marcia writes the way she talks, and she's hilariously funny. Buy this book and read it all the way through the next time you have a "life sucks" day. That's my prescription for happiness.

Chances are if you're reading the reviews for this book then you've read at least one Capone biography and walked away, like me, thinking, "Great story, wish I knew more about the Northsiders." Well Rose Keefe has heard our collective wail and has provided us with one of the best books on both Chicago gangland and one of its most interesting characters. There is much more to the O'Banion/Northside story than just being fodder for Capone's gunmen. If you're into Chicago's gangland past then this volume is a must.

A great bio on the Chicago gangster gunned down in his flower shop during the "Roaring Twenties". The book focuses on the rivalry between the Northside Chicago mob and the Southside Torrio-Capone mob.Obanion and his cohorts are literally devoured by the inter-city "big time" mobs with connections to New York city.From reading this book I don't believe Obanion knew what he was up against,he was a small town boy who moved to the city of Chicago, yet he tried to run his crime empire like a small business. Cavorting around a flower shop by day,shaking hands,(without an enemy in the world?),with little to no protection,meanwhile engaging in criminal activity that would include murder.That's just asking for it,and Torrio's mob,later inherited by Capone,was only too happy to oblige. It seems Torrio's mob when they arrived in Chicago was already an experienced hard core criminal transplant from NYC and cites thereof.How could Obanion honestly think that when the control of rackets,gambling,bottlegging,and the millions of dollars at stake, there was a "moral" line that shouldn't be crossed?Especially when dealing with the mob and seeing as the mob eliminated its own so what could a rival gang expect.Capone listed his profession as furniture dealer but I doubt you would see him lifting furniture into trucks.His furniture business was a fort.The short baby faced Obanion never had a chance in dealing with the NYC mob. this book really brought this out as I read it.An excellent work on crime history but it sort of makes Obanion look like a "farmer".

This is a must have book for anyone interested in Chicago's beer wars. Mrs. Keefe has written a brilliantly told acurate story that helps us understand how Capone became the legend that he is, for without Dean O'Banion on the north Capone may not have been as big on the south.

This is about the people who nearly beat the Capone Mob for control of the Chicago boot-legging business. They were led by a florist and included a war hero, a cowboy, a bigamist and a practical joker who starred in an early stag film in the middle of a gang war. The wild Northside Gang is today best remembered for being the victims in the St Valentine's Massacre but in the twenties they were household names. This and Rose Keefe's book about Bugs Moran are both fascinating. A must read!

This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched biography of Dean O'Banion and it has been justly recognized as definitive. Rose Keefe's greatest accomplishment is that her meticulous research has refuted dozens of journalistic half truths, embellishments and canards that have become commonly accepted as the truth simply because of constant repetition over eight decades. The actual Dean O'Banion is a far more complex and interesting character than his newspaper stereotype.

Many sources have characterized the Prohibition battles between the Northside Gang and the Capone/Torrio mob as simply a territorial battle between the Irish and those damned Dagoes. Keefe correctly points out that the Northsiders were, in fact, an exceedingly diverse group comprised of Irish, Italian, German, Jewish and Polish hoodlums. The reality was more complicated than the widely accepted conventional wisdom.

Although O'Banion could act in an utterly ruthless manner if circumstances warranted, more often than not he relied upon his quick wits. He possessed superior intelligence and had an engaging personality that inspired great loyalty from his comrades even long after his death.

Despite his humble origins, O'Banion had the ability to put people from various walks of life at perfect ease and to form lasting friendships that allowed him to move easily in political and social circles despite his criminal background. O'Banion was a contradiction: he was a devoted son and husband. One could envision the industrious O'Banion succeeding in almost any field of endeavor that he tried. The loss of his beloved mother to tuberculosis and a childhood accident that left O'Banion partially crippled with a permanent limp were traumatic episodes, but rather than contenting himself to be sidelined by his handicap or to endure a life of economic hardship and privation, O'Banion chose not to be pushed around as he hit back hard with both fists in order to survive in the rough and tumble, dog eat dog environment that was Chicago in the early years of the past century.

If you are living from hand to mouth, it always pays to be ambidextrous and O'Banion was, figuratively and literally: his custom tailored suits contained multiple pistol pockets which allowed O'Banion to draw concealed revolvers using either his right or left hand or both hands simultaneously. The same hands that O'Banion could and did use to fire pistols, crack safes, stuff ballot boxes or slug out rival newspaper hawkers would also cut flowers into lovely arrangements for weddings and funerals. As a bootlegger, O'Banion prided himself on selling quality products as opposed to the rot gut handled by his rivals.

Keefe relates the many occasions on which O'Banion performed acts of charity. Some of these kindly acts were calculated, however, since O'Banion was also interested in reaping votes come election time. By performing good deeds, he could call in favors when ballots were being cast by his neighbors. Unlike Al Capone who coupled brutality and with openly lewd and lecherous behavior (Scarface allegedly gained his trademark after making crude remarks about a woman's shapely posterior in the presence of her protective and knife wielding older brother), O'Banion was noted for behaving in a courteous and oftentimes chivalrous manner.

Keefe's writing is factual and entertaining. The O'Banion who she describes in such great depth proves to be such a charming and larger than life personality that it is entirely possible to imagine his immortal soul awaiting forgiveness and redemption in Purgatory. I was reminded of the Warner Brothers crime melodrama "Angels with Dirty Faces" in which a priest played by Pat O'Brien called upon a group of juvenile delinquents to "pray for a boy that who couldn't run as fast as I could" after his childhood friend who failed to escape the corrupting influence of the mean streets died at an early age as a result of embarking upon a criminal career. If this sounds like a mere Hollywood screenwriting cliche, consider the fact that a Roman Catholic priest was disciplined and transferred for leading graveside prayers for Dean O'Banion despite orders from the Cardinal to deny Christian burial rites to known gangsters.

The only serious fault that I found with "Guns and Roses" is that the book lacks proper footnotes. There is a bibliography, but Keefe ought to have provided footnote attributions to the excerpted materials that were previously published elsewhere. There are also some minor geographical, historical and typographical errors that Chicagoans may catch in the text, usually on minor details, but the book is otherwise solid. Despite these shortcomings, this book is nevertheless a significant addition to the true crime history of Chicago during the Prohibition Era.

This is one of the BEST books I have ever read. Glenys dropped everything when she heard her son was in a coma on the other side of the world. She tended to him 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even setting her alarm clock every 3 hours to turn Scott over in bed so he wouldn't get bed sores.

I find it amazing that there were always people to help Glenys, all she needed to do was step out of her home and people were there willing to help her tend to Scott. She is obviously guided by someone on the other side. Even when she rented a house for 18 months that was up for sale, not once did she get a call from the real estate agent to say someone wanted to view the house. Yet, the day Scott died, she got the first call. Coincidence?

Tears streamed down my face when Scott died in hospital. For a mother having to make the decision between watching her child suffer or relieving his pain but with a risk he could die - how can a mother possibly make that decision?

For 4 years Scott was in and out of hospital - and each time he overcame infection after infection without antibiotics. However, the hospital made a terrible mistake which cost Scott his life.

Get this book and read it - you won't be disappointed.

I don't feel I can find the appropriate words to delivery how much I have been effected by this story. I found myself laughing out loud in moments, while crying heavily in others. The author's strength, creative soul and most profoundly --her humanity transcends life itself. This story moves me.The kindness the author encountered amongst so many strangers along her journey moves me. I found myself crying on the subway on my way to work this morning rereading beautiful passage about her son and a special bunny named Thumper.

Most eloquently stated by the author," There are things more powerful than our best intentions; that life is painted in broader strokes than we can imagine and all we can do is our best." I felt so connected to her and her view of life, and the strength to weather life's obstacles with an overwhelming endurance, to fully embrace life with an open heart and tender kindness..

After reading her book, I felt more available to the present moment and wanted to live, to take, to enjoy, to really experience life in all its fullest.The author and her actions really impacted me. She's is an incredble woman. I highly recommend this book as a very powerful, moving journey into her love for her son, her soul, and her humanity effecting thousands.
-Kirsten Lewis, New York, New York

I must admit that this is one of the most touching and inspiring book I've ever read. I refuse to close the book before I finished reading it! This story is about a mother who will do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for a miracle so that her son, Scott who suffered from a traumatic head injury and was not expected to live again will be able to walk again. She have gone to great lenghts from Australia to London, putting out leaflets asking help from strangers to be volunteers to help with her invalid son. Strangers of all ages, sizes and different backgrounds turn up to give a helping hand in anyway they can. This taught me that even though one may be a complete stranger to another - kindness, generosity and faith will bring people together in a most extraordinary way. I will definitely recommend this book to anyone because I'm sure it'll be an inspiration to you. Like what Scott said, "I love living!"

I am really happy to have come across this book.
This is a portrait of people of strength.
Not fantacy or fiction that the author takes the liberty to weave the magic
but the magic that was lived and transformed many people.
to live fully with all the power in your soul, sometimes, it was through challenges
that ignite the fire from within.

i know people like Glenys Carl, those who live magic and create everything they need from all situations because of their will power, vision and the love that reside in their hearts that knows no limit.

i fully appreciate her sharing of such a tapestry of her life and her beloved.
inspirational and moving...
it's a book to open hearts.

Hilary and Gillian, your step-cousins from Cardiff, read your book and were interested in your interpretation of our Welsh past. Good read. From Hilary and Gilly.

It doesn't matter how many home runs Berry Bond's or anyone of this aera of Baseball, what Hank AAron endured and the racial hatred he went through only proves that he is the BEST. These modern day players could not survive what he and others went through.

I've been a fan from age seven, which is where I was in life when Henry hit number 715. His recounting of his life in baseball is captivating and highly educational.

Mr Aaron is one of the most skilled players in baseball history, and his telling of his story explains that he is much more than that. Mr Aaron is a man of dignity and class, his success through clouds of racist hate provides a shining example of what a man can be under extreme circumstances. Thank you Henry, for your marvelous career in baseball, and for your open, honest sharing of the story.

"I Had A Hammer" is a wonderfully written autobiography about the struggles and the triumphs of one Henry(aka Hank) "The Hammer" Aaron, the career home run record holder, and one of the last of the "Negro League" players to make it big. Aaron describes his upbringing in Mobile well, and shows us the different levels of racism in the Deep South. The book reveals that Aaron fought against segregation in the minor leagues, helping to end "white-only" minor league teams, and shows us Aaron's love affair with the city of Milwaukee and it's long-gone Braves team, and the tense relationship between Aaron and Atlanta, which had the first Deep South major league team. This is recommended for lovers of baseball as well as those who want to know more about civil rights heroes. Atlanta is not cast in a good light in this book, but Aaron harbors little bitterness towards the city or the racism and death threats he had to endure while trying to break Babe Ruth's record.

The athletic proficiency of Hank Aaron is probably the greatest in the history of baseball if not all sports. He is a man of dignity, grace and the stuff legends are made of. This is an endearing and absorbing biography. This biography has captivated the legend of the man for me. It is well written with true fervor and endearment. One of the best.

In this baseball season where my favorite team is floundering in the cellar, and every good story(compelling divisional races) is counterbalanced by the bad (steroids), I have been trying to maintain interest by re-reading some baseball books that I have read over the years. After re-reading "I Had A Hammer", I remember why it remains one of the best biographies/autobiographies that I have ever read.

The sports genre in books is much harder than one would think to keep up interest in. There are very few gems in any sporting subject; mostly it's very mediocre to terribly vapid. Usually a fan becomes disappointed in their sports "heroes" when they read a biography about them, because the writing can be so bad. Fortunately, for a ballplayer as great as Hank Aaron, the work lives up to the character and legend of the man.

Mr. Aaron does a splendid job of taking the reader through his life in Alabama, his discovering the game of baseball, and - of course - his remarkable career. His writing style provides enough description to allow the reader to get a true mental "picture" of what his life was like without getting bogged down in minutiae. Throughout the book, I had the feeling like I really was there watching his career unfold.

Of course, that brings us to the real core - and most important part - of his life story. That is, what Mr. Aaron experienced as he neared and eclipsed Babe Ruth's home run record. Most celebrities or sports figures would relate this in that sensational, "woe-is-me", tabloid-tell-all sort of way. Not Mr. Aaron. He shares many of the truly hateful and despicable letters he received from people across the nation who saw the idea of an African-American breaking the record of a white man as egregious. Mr. Aaron relates how this inundation of hate mail affected him, but he manages to avoid expressing any hate towards the senders of those letters. One obviously gets the sense that Mr. Aaron steeled himself against those attacks with grace and dignity, allowing himself to still play the game the way it was supposed to be played, and to do it with class and personal enjoyment.

It is striking to return to Mr. Aaron's autobiography after the events in baseball over the past decade. We as a fan base in general express outrage over the strike, the steroids (and questions about those players that broke records), outrageous salaries, and the like. It seems to always elicit a response demanding a return to the "innocence" of baseball seasons and players gone by. However, Mr. Aaron's experience demonstrates that there was controversy in almost every era of the game. In his case, it was a despicable form of racial hatred expressed by a very vocal minority in this country.

Again, "I Had A Hammer" stands out as one of the great books in the sports genre, and stands out as one of my favorite biographies/autobiographies. I rate it the full five stars, and encourage readers of all interests to give this one their attention.

This is a simply lovely book. I was a music student at Yale a few years before the author studied at Curtis, and his book invokes that time for me as if it were yesterday. I think anyone would enjoy it greatly even beyond the music, for it shows how four highly talented, strongly opinionated, dynamic men could blend into a coherent group - in their case, to make music, but law partners (I changed careers) could learn a lot from their example. A wonderful book.

This book was a joy to read. Not only is Arnold Steinhardt a superb violinist, he's also a very good writer. No doubt it helps to appreciate this book if you're a fan of the Guarneri Quartet and a lover of the string quartet literature, but I found Steinhardt so charming, and the story so compelling, I imagine the book might have a broader appeal. It's a story of a kid pursuing a dream, then the kid and the dream both maturing while a love of chamber music develops, which then requires the dream of solo stardom to give way to a lifelong collaboration with three others. The three others, of course, share his passion for chamber music, and particularly for that ineffable, almost perfect form they choose to make their life's work together. They start out exploring and experimenting, with hardly a penny. They grope their way towards playing as an ensemble, gradually become established, and then come the constant touring, recording, families. They learn how to stay together by creating boundaries, and they stay together for over four decades (although the original cellist retired before the rest, this book was written before his retirement).

We meet a lot of famous musicians, and there are many interesting and sometimes humorous anecdotes, but the most interesting parts of the book have to do with the music and its making. Steinhardt mentions the cavatina from Beethoven's Op. 130 more than any other piece or movement - clearly it's had a special place in his life. I saw the Guarneri a few months ago, during their final season, and it was bittersweet. They played Beethoven's Op. 74 and his Op. 130 with the Op. 133 Grosse Fuge as the final movement. It was magnificent. I prefer their late Beethoven to anyone else's. Mr. Steinhardt looked liked he'd aged considerably in only a year or so. I'll miss them. I'm grateful to have this book along with their recordings now that they're retiring.

I would recommend this book for any musician, especially a member of an ensemble. This book gives a good insight of the personal dynamics between the members and why they have been successful and together for so many years.

excellent study of the dynamics of a string quartet, or any group of individuals working for a single goal.

Fantastic read for any instrumentalist, especially if youve played in any type of small ensemble.Highly recommended.

I was fortunate enough to have this author as a professor for a history of Japan course. His knowledge and insight on the subject proved to be invaluable and this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Japanese history. Personal stories, many of which have never before been shared, about a time that many have struggled to forget, this book offers a glimpse at the effects the war had on the "common man." I Highly recommend this book. It's a quick read, but by far one of the best ways to learn about the subject.

This book presents interviews with a tremendous range of Japanese people who experienced WWII. It is an incredible book. About ten years ago, I read this as an undergraduate for an Asian Studies seminar course on relations of China, Japan and the US. This book had a tremendous impact on shaping and expanding my understanding of just what went on in the Asian sphere of WWII. Since reading it, I have frequently referenced it for courses that I teach. It is a fascinating and disturbing book which when taken as a whole provides deep insights into what was going on inside and outside of Japan during that period.

This book gave me great insight into how a people are injured by the lies of their government. I learned a lot about the Japanese culture.I could easily see myself in the mothers of Japan. I bought this book at a garage sale where the owner was selling all of the books they read in their Asian studies program at college. I was honestly shocked and heartbroken to read about the Japanese point of view.
The really scary thing is how current the idea still is that an uneducated populus can really be driven to a horrible end by their government's lies! Now I am learning Japanese (another garage sale find!) from tapes. I will visit Japan with a greater sense of their history and culture.

This was a very good well written book! It is easy to follow, and takes the reader down numerous paths of the war years and the scars that were inflicted on those who lived, and died.

I believe the book was initially utilized as a text in some colleges, but it is not written like any text book I ever had to read.

This book is an accumulation of oral interviews that helps the reader to visualize, smell, and even taste the sadness and poverty of those who fought the war; not just on the high seas, or the jungles of the South Pacific, but...on the streets of Tokyo, Nagasaki, Kyoto, and Hiroshima.

This book examines a proud culture and the utterly devestated people who lived within it.

A compelling set of recollections from Japanese citizens and soldiers who lived and experienced WWII. These stories give an interesting insight into the psyche of the average Japanese citizen and soldier during the war. This is one of the few existing WWII books pertaining to the Pacific Campaign that gives you insight into the thoughts and feelings of the Japanese during the war. A must read for anyone wanting to see the perspective from the "other side". Highly recommended.

I wanted to know the real scoop for years on the Geronimo Pratt case. Although I'm not yet finished reading the book, it is very obvious that Mt. Pratt got screwed, like so many others caught up in the "good old USA" system. Obviously this one is a case of racial prejudice, but it could have just as easily been some other kind of prejudice. It is clear that the concept of "innocent until proven guilty" is just a nice theory that should be strictly adhered to but rarely is. The presumed guilt is clear from the get go on the part of the police. It continues on to the top with lies and deception on the part of the police to get a conviction at any cost, especially with regard to the truth. It's frightening and a relief to know it's not me. But next time it could be me, or anyone who gets targeted by individuals in a position of power, who have no integrity, and don't give a hoot about the constitution of the US.

This is certainly one of the best books I've ever read. Jack Olsen did an outstanding job of weaving together all the facts in a highly readable narrative of one of the most blatant chapters of injustice in 20th century legal history.

I already had considerable knowledge of the case before I read this book. In the early 1990s, the case was being publicized again. I was a reporter for Wave Newspapers in Los Angeles and journeyed with a co-worker to the state prison at Tehachapi where Pratt was then being held and we interviewed him. I then wrote several stories about his situation.

Pratt was imprisoned for 27 years for a crime he clearly did not commit. The prosecution was part of the FBI's notorious COINTELPRO operation-essentially a war against numerous dissenting groups in the 1960s including the Black Panther Party. As Olsen makes clear, in Pratt's case this also involved LAPD and the L.A. County District Attorney's office.

Pratt was convicted of the December 1968 Santa Monica tennis-court murder of school teacher Caroline Olsen. There was considerable doubt about the credibility of key-witness Julius Butler, who had a previous falling out with Pratt, and was later proven to be an informant. (When I was a reporter, I actually contacted Butler. He yelled that he was "tired of this" and hung up on me.) Plus, numerous other Panthers could have confirmed he was at a meeting in Oakland the day of the murder but most wouldn't testify because of a severe split in the ranks.

Appeal after appeal was turned down despite more and more evidence being discovered pointing to Pratt's innocence. In all probability the crime was committed by two low-level Panther members to obtain money for drugs.

That ties in with the only complaint I would make about Olsen's book. He really glossed over the fact that the FBI and police campaign against the Panthers (which I am not defending) was not just because of their militant political rhetoric. They had a lot of criminal types within the group.

Regardless, this is an extraordinary book about another era and the governmental abuses of that time. Johnnie Cochran redeemed himself in my eyes by getting Pratt released. That was after he was involved in a travesty of justice, himself, by getting O.J. Simpson off. But that's another story.

The courage and essential goodness of Geronimo Pratt, in spite of receiving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit, is truly inspiring. This is a wonderful book.

Geronimo Pratt had one of the most honorable and incredible lives I have ever heard of. This book documents his entire life, from is Morgan City childhood to his unjust incarceration for the murder of Caroline Olsen. I literally had trouble putting this book down. It is a great read for anyone interested in the judicial system, the FBI's COINTELPRO, the Black Panther Party, and racism in general. READ THIS BOOK!!!

This book should be mandatory reading for every black person when they turn 15 years old. To read what the gov't put this man through was utterly shocking. After you read this book read "The Judas Factor - The Plot to Kill Malcolm X." You'll be numb after reading these two books back to back.