Churchill Books

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) is as old as human history, but after many years of denial, both by parents, professionals and society, it is now coming out in the open. Here in Israel we hear now nearly every day about a new story of CAN reaching the awareness of professionals and quickly splashed all over the news media.

The pediatrician Charles Henry Kempe made headlines, when his work on "the battered child syndrome" was published in 1962. His work resulted in the establishment of the Kempe Center in Denver in 1972, the founding of the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in 1976 and the publication of the international scientific journal "Child Abuse and Neglect" in 1977.

Child abuse and neglect. A clinician's handbook is written by the team of community pediatricians from Leeds in United Kingdom, Christopher Hobbs and Jane Wynne, together with the clinical psychologist Helga Hanks. The first edition was published in 1993, but this second edition is more comprehensive and very much focused on the clinical and practical aspects of handling cases of CAN. Case stories from daily life as community pediatricians are used in a very illustrative way all through the book.

Child abuse and neglect has 18 chapter with topics such as failure to thrive, physical abuse, burns and scalds, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, disability and abuse, problems in the fetal period, poisoning, management, psychological intervention, residential care, legal aspects and fatal child abuse. 32 pages with 132 color pictures are used to explain physical signs of CAN.

Many cases of abuse and neglect in the adolescent age group are also discussed through the chapters and the book can therefore be recommended for every professional working with children and adolescents as a handbook and teaching guide.

Professor Joav Merrick, MD, DMSC, Medical Director Division for the Mentally Retarded in Israel, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,Box 1260, IL-91012 Jerusalem, Israel,Email: jmerrick@aquanet.co.il

A number of expert authors provide details about the various aspects of sexual,emotional, and physicial abuse.

An excellent analysis of Churchill's life, based on the premise that if his career had ended in 1939, it would have been a litany of failure, failure, failure. James's book starts with a thumbnail sketch of Churchill's father (another spectacular failure), then traces Winston's march through the first half of the 20th century. He bolted from one parliamentary caucus to another, making enemies in all corners; he sent thousands to their deaths at the Dardanelles fiasco; eventually, he was outcast and ignored through most of the 1930's. James writes in fine style, though it is sometimes a little too aloof, preventing a closer relationship between the reader and Churchill. However, the book is an excellent overall look at the Churchill most people don't focus on (ie. his first FORTY YEARS in parliament). Worth getting if you can find it.

This text is well written and easy to follow. The case analysis included are modern and very appropriate for the most part. There are a few I found a little frustrating but all in all this was good reading especially for a textbook. I will keep this one for future reference.

Winston Churchill was one of only two people holding ministerial office at the outbreak of both WW1 and WW2. Whilst he was First Lord of the Admiralty in both cases, he did hold other posts in between. As First Lord, he learned a great deal about the Royal Navy and was extremely well versed in naval matters generally by the time he came to be Prime Minister during the latter of those two wars. It is for this reason alone that he was often accused of paying more attention to the Royal Navy and their operations than he did the Army and RAF and theirs.

Stephen Roskill comes to the subject with excellent credentials - having been appointed to the Cabinet Office Historical Section in 1949 to write those volumes of the UK Military History Series eventually published as "The War at Sea 1939-45." Having been granted immediate access to the First Lord's and First Sea Lord's papers (the First Lord of the Admiralty being the Government Minister with special responsibility for the Royal Navy and the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty being the senior Royal Navy Admiral (also known as Chief of Naval Staff) who is in charge of the Royal Navy) for the period in question, he undoubtedly had access to information which would have been denied to other writers at that time. Little wonder his work eventually, though incorrectly, became known as the official history of WW2.

In "Churchill and the Admirals," the author now explores the very relationships Churchill had with a variety of senior RN officers (and others) throughout both wars. Whilst names like Beatty, Jellicoe (WW1), Pound and Mountbatten (WW2) spring readily to mind, what makes this account all the more remarkable is the fact that one man - i.e. Churchill, was involved at the very top of British Naval operations and strategy throughout this most important time in the history of the world. And!, he almost out-lived them all.

NM

Winston Churchill was one of only two people holding ministerial office at the outbreak of both WW1 and WW2. Whilst he was First Lord of the Admiralty in both cases, he did hold other posts in between. As First Lord, he learned a great deal about the Royal Navy and was extremely well versed in naval matters generally by the time he came to be Prime Minister during the latter of those two wars. It is for this reason alone that he was often accused of paying more attention to the Royal Navy and their operations than he did the Army and RAF and theirs.

Stephen Roskill comes to the subject with excellent credentials - having been appointed to the Cabinet Office Historical Section in 1949 to write those volumes of the UK Military History Series eventually published as "The War at Sea 1939-45." Having been granted immediate access to the First Lord's and First Sea Lord's papers (the First Lord of the Admiralty being the Government Minister with special responsibility for the Royal Navy and the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty being the senior Royal Navy Admiral (also known as Chief of Naval Staff) who is in charge of the Royal Navy) for the period in question, he undoubtedly had access to information which would have been denied to other writers at that time. Little wonder his work eventually, though incorrectly, became known as the official history of WW2.

In "Churchill and the Admirals," the author now explores the very relationships Churchill had with a variety of senior RN officers (and others) throughout both wars. Whilst names like Beatty, Jellicoe (WW1), Pound and Mountbatten (WW2) spring readily to mind, what makes this account all the more remarkable is the fact that one man - i.e. Churchill, was involved at the very top of British Naval operations and strategy throughout this most important time in the history of the world. And!, he almost out-lived them all.

NM

this book enlightens us on churchill as man of peace his abilities to keep the peace and laid to rest assumptions that he was a warmonger

I liked the book. It covered the basic subject very well. I thought the pictures were good and I like the detail alot. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in military history.

Some of the most important episodes in history are those that are unknown to all but a few. An example of this is the foreign intervention in Russia during the latter's civil war at the end of WWI. A whole host of countries and organizations actively opposed the rise of the Bolsheviks in Russia, and many of them sent troops to actively fight the Red Army. These countries included the US and England; the latter behind the insistence of Winston Churchill. Though their intervention came to nought; in its wake was a permanent distrust of foreigners in general, and the West in particular, by Russia for the rest of the 20th century. This book is one of the few modern publications to explore the history of this episode from beginning to end. Major and minor characters, both in smoky halls of public office and smoky ruins of battlefields, are brought forth. Intentions are laid out as the author revisits old documents; many of them available only in certain archives. Though involving many, the book justifies its title as it was Winston Churchill who really pushed military intervention in Russia; to the point of costing him his seat in parliament and sending him into the political exile for over a decade.

The book moves at a brisk pace, and is structured as an extensive piece of journalistic work. There is little commentary; hence the text comes across as objective. There are also numerous references to other books on this episode; another plus. Altogether, a good book on an important topic.

This book has proved to be quite valuable for me going through dental school. It is organized in a way that makes finding info very quick, and also is easy to read through the basics. Obviously, it is not a comprehensive review of any subject, and you SHOULD go to your primary texts. Also no oral path. But, it is a great book to just carry around in your early stages of your career. As a current 4th year, I find that I know most of the information it has, but it was very useful for 1+ years.