P Books

this is a good book i cannot believe that it is out of print! I lent a copy to a friend and have never had it returned.
I read this before i ever visited L.A. but having been there now, you can see the jumps in imagination that he makes about a possible near future for the place. Dingy hotels and fires in the streets, subversive writers and strange and exotic grrls who just seem to turn up and then vanish. He describes a place that made me think of cities in warzones, in movies like Full Metal Jacket and The Killing Fields. What is so good is that the story veers between fiction and what sounds like autobiography a lot and so constantly keeps you on your toes and just a little off-balance in this dream-like world.
L.A. just before the end of the world, or maybe just after?

Existential entropy is the dominant theme of Steve Erickson's sixth book, a meditation on the persistence of memory, the disappearance of the real, and the no-man's-land between fact and imagination.

With limber, hypnotic prose and vivid imagery, the nameless narrator leads us through a landscape of paranoia, sex, and decay. Though this no-man's-land takes the shape of L.A. early in the next century, the novel's axes are psychology and identity, not society and technology.

One of the narrator's obsessions is what he calls the Cinema of Hysteria: "movies that make no sense at all - and we understand them completely." Similarly, this tale seems plotless; but, as in Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49, the arbitrary oddities slowly coalesce into a haunting whole. Erickson has spun a cunning web - less a book of laughter and forgetting than a seductive insomniac nightmare of hysteria and amnesia.

I've heard some folks say that Erickson's Amnesiascope is one of his lesser works, but in my view it is head and shoulders above his other novels. "Amnesiascope" is an apocalyptic prose-poem about life in L.A., and where "Rubicon Beach" dragged with long, tedious dream-sequences, "Amnesiascope" soars by providing enough humor, detail, and vividly-imagined cityscapes to keep you fascinated by every page. As I read it, I occasionally thought to myself, "This reads like Henry Miller." Later, in an interview with Erickson, he mentioned that Miller was an inspiration for this novel.

Erickson's dark, quirkily romantic future L.A. has the resonance of one of J.G. Ballard's apocalyptic landscapes. Like voyeurs, we're ushered into a world of flickering volcanic fires, leaking hotels and anxiety-run-rampant in the tradition of DeLillo's "White Noise" and Pynchon's "Vineland."

"Amnesiascope" is far more than a meditation on nightlife. Erickson's meticulously wrought characters are what propels this odd, gorgeous book. At once experimental and character-driven, "Amnesiacope" succeeds in its well-honed balance between landscape and psyche, empathy and urban detachment. There wasn't a moment I didn't like; "Amnesiacope" stands as one of the most moving near-future novels to have graced the genre.

It is a shame that this book is out of print, because it is one of those books that I would love to recommend to friends to read. The book is many things at once: provocative, sexy, imaginative, fun, sad. The back cover features a blurb comparing him to Pynchon, Nabokov, and DeLillo. Although I don't see the comparison to Nabokov, I would add my own comparisons: J. G. Ballard (especially books like CRASH and VERMILLION SANDS), William S. Burroughs, and even Neal Stephenson. The authors mentioned would prepare a would-be reader for the unexpected and the unusual; it might not prepare the reader for the beauty of his prose.

I fully expect this book to be in print again in the near future. Until then, I would urge any fan of literature to search this book out and read it. It is often beautiful, frequently haunting, and always original.

Even if you're not single, there is remarkable charm and understanding in this little book about being a woman in what is STILL a remarkably marriage-obsessed society. It is a pleasure and a comfort to take part in poking fun of this reality. As ever, Author Rachel Carpenter's intellectual, dry wit comes through even in the context of the whimsical simplicity of the book. Anyone--male or female--who has ever actively looked for a life partner and consistently failed at doing so (in other words, everyone, right?) will gobble up these modern words of wisdom.

Whether you are happily married (like me) or still looking (like many of my girlfriends), this book is a good way to laugh at yourself. Even if you never looked for a partner you know someone who has offered you the perfect advice for finding a mate. I took the book to work and everyone enjoyed it and subsequently shared stories from their own experiences. Even the men loved it! They said it was fun to see us poke fun at ourselves.

A friend of mine had this book sitting on her coffee table and I opened it up and couldn't put it down. This is one of the funniest parodies I've seen in years. I was laughing out loud from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out, Carpenter would come up with another unexpected and delightfully amusing twist. I've bought four and am giving them as Valentine's gifts. Even my mother (married for 50 years!) loves it. Does anyone know who Rachel Carpenter is? Has she written other stuff? I searched her name on amazon and couldn't find other books but I'd sure love to read a novel if she's got one. Wow!

My husband brought this book to work today to show to his coworkers. It is kind of cute that he is responding so well to a pink chick book...So its clearly not just for girls.

Hilarious! A chick looking for her husband, from ballroom dance classes to AA meetings with amusing results. Does she find him? I don't want to ruin the surprise! Suffice to say, along the journey, she realizes that whether or not she finds The Man, she can lead a fulfilling, rich life.

I'm working for a .com company again! I don't believe it. I picked up this book for a good idea of what it takes to remain competitive in this space. I was pleased and surprised to see that the lessons are still useful. Maybe even more so now that ROI and other basic business practices are being applied to online businesses. I liked this book a lot.

I recently lost my job at a tech company, so I read this book looking for tips on how to remain competitive in the downturn. The funny thing is the book was written in 2001 just as the .com meltdown was heating up. Thus it starts out optimistic about the future of the net, but points out why many companies will fail. He was right about that, but I'm not sure I share his optimism that downturn cycles tend to last three years. It's worth a read though because it has good insights on how to remain in the game when times get tough. And times ARE tough right now. In general, I might have given this one four stars because it's good a bit over-detailed and of course derivitive. But I decided to give it five because it turns out to be very relative to what's happening in the marketplace today. If you're still unemployed by summertime, take this one to the beach with you.

I read this book about a month ago. I find myself thinking back to it in different business situations. Hey, does that mean I learned something? One of the better Internet books I've read in a while.

I expected this to be another outdated cheerleader-type Internet book that touted the net as a great business savior while ignoring the fact that most Net-based businesses failed. I was surprised to discover that it helped me understand WHY those businesses failed, and even established a checklist for anyone hoping to still make a buck online. I think the book is guilty of not criticizing some net strategies for being short sighted, and it's also guilty of supporting some of the "free content is better" mentality that only a few Net businesses have made work. (That's why it doesn't earn five stars from me.) But still, the lessons are solid enough that this book ranks as one of those undiscovered gems that I'd recommend to anyone involved in online services. Learn the lessons.

I'm taking a summer business school course, and we had to read and analyze a business book. I picked this one because I'd previously read The Art of War. Likes: 1) Details about how markets evolve and grow, and how important timing is. 2) Several real world business examples, given to support the concepts. 3) Easy to read. Informative but not lost in boring jargon. Dislikes: 1) Takes the position that some companies- though only a few large ones - will still be able to survive by offering free services supported via advertising. (From what I've seen this is drying up.) 2) Would like to see more details on how companies might migrate from ad-supported to subscription-based models. That said, I did enjoy the focus on establishing competitive supply chains (which we're learning about in class). By detailing the ups and downs of exchange builders like Covisint, it studies the third approach - neither ad based nor fully subscription based. Our class considers such commerce exchanges which survive on transaction percentages, the wave of the future.

I have to agree with the other reviews on this book, it's a MUST have at any price.

The art from the early Dragonlance covers has always been some of my favorite fantasy art, and this book dives deeper in the vaults to bring out art that if you're like me might never have seen. Some of the art is from the dragonlance calandars, posters, etc. This book will leave you with a deep appriciation for Larry Elmore and the other great artists who've done these covers.

I was born with the name of Raistlin.. naturally i would want to see the character i was named after. This book provided me with the start to my passion with Dragon Lance.
It goes into detail and explains everything (how the dragon riders stay on the dragons etc.).
I have one copy and so does my Dad, but mine has pages missing from when he used them as posters. I want another copy but it depends how much i am willing to pay on e bay.
This book is worth getting for a price such as £50.

Enjoy.

This book is worth every penny I paid to get it. It includes a short story about how the Dragonlance epic came to be, the four original color roughs (by Larry Elmore), sketches of the dragonlance and saddle and how to use it, sketches and pictures of the many types of draconians, armor and weapons, beautiful oil and acrylic pictures, a little history and pictures of the Heroes of the Lance, pictures and history of minor characters such as Lord Lorac, the elven king, and much, much more! This book is a must-have for any Dragonlance collector. You won't be disappointed!

This gorgeous book is one of the finest compendiums of TSR artwork ever created - it is loaded full of hundreds of illustrations, free of print, on glossy paper; included are every piece of full-color artwork ever created for Dragonlance (up through 1987), supplemented with rich text and many, many concept sketches that appear nowhere else! For Dragonlance afficionados, or those who appreciated classic art by Easley, Caldwell, Parkinson, Elmore, and more, this is the ideal collection.

This was an absolutely beautifully laid out book. It contains 'round 40 full color full page prints of paintings of the dragonlance saga. Along with the prints there is also background info. on how the artists put the images together, along with an intriguing storyline that ran with the images. An absolutely fantastic book... can't say much more about it!

I've read about 40 first-person books written by survivors of the Japanese POW camps and this is one of the best. When I began reading the book I didn't realize that I knew Lt. Boyt's family and when I did the story became even more compelling. Lt. Boyt and his biographer did an excellent job of telling his story, outlining what life was like for the young people during the 1930s and early 40s and how overcoming the hardships of that life was what made this the "Greatest Generation". Boyt's story tells how he used determination to overcome barrier after barrier to become a successful and useful citizen. Those traits did him well when he was suddenly thrust into the horror of prison camp under the brutal heel of the Japanese. He and his buddies withstood more than is hardly believable. Young Americans should be required to read this book so they can better understand that this is the "Home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave!"

Pleased with the prompt delivery. Good doing business with you.

This is a fascinating, well-written account of the life of a man who symbolizes the best qualities of "the greatest generation." Men like Mr. Boyt endured unimaginable suffering and then came home to live quiet, decent lives without seeking the attention and respect they deserved. We need to hear their stories and learn from them before they pass away. This book is inspiring and easy to read. I highly recommend it.

Great read! Clear, concise, draws you in. Gene Boyt's outstanding character and his attitude about the horrible ordeal he is forced to endure comes through clearly as a big reason for his survival. Mr Boyt's story is one of true heroism, although he states he considered himself only a survivor. This excellent book shares a special place on my bookshelf next to other stories of Mr Boyt's great generation. -Forever Greatful

This is the story of my Grandpa. I hope you all enjoy this book! Now that my Pops is in a better place I can read this book and feel closer to him than ever. Through reading this book my family and I have learned so much that we never knew about our Pops. It shows the best and worst of the people of the Death March and the angels that helped my pops to survive so that I may be here today. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have! Thank you for reading it.
Shoni Boyt

This is a must-have resource. Gorgeous illustrations, detailed descriptions and referenced by the leaders in the field.

it is amazing that such an authoritative text can actually be written. but there it is!. a masterpiece, which is so encompasing that words fail. braunwald has a tradition and every new edition is a towering giant over the previous.seeing is beleiving, thus i strongly recommend this text to any one wishing to perfect himself in any aspect of cardiology.

Dr. James Thogtam: A classic book for those in the field

WITH THE SEVENTH EDITION OF BRAUNwald's Heart Disease, the editors have accomplished an impressive feat: improving on an already classic text. With 36 new chapters and full-color figures and photographs, the new edition is substantially altered in both content and appearance. Compared with the rather limited color-plate photographs in the sixth edition, the color photographs, figures, and tables in each chapter significantly enhance the new text.

Informative chapters on the foundations of cardiovascular medicine remain, including detailed discussions of history taking, physical examination, and electrocardiography, topics often overshadowed in an era of rapidly progressive medical technology.....

The seventh edition of Braunwald's Heart Disease would be a worthy addition to the medical library of any practicing cardiologist, cardiology fellow, or health care practitioner with a special interest in heart disease.

THIS MASTERPIECE IN CARDIOLOGY BRINGS TO SPECIALISTS AND HEALTH PROVIDERS IN GENERAL THE APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE FOR SUCCEDING IN THEIR TASKS.SINCE THE BASIC AND SIMPLE TO THE MOST COMPLEX UPDATED AWARENESS, THIS ENCYCLOPEDIA CONVEYS THE READER THROUGH THE RIGHT PATH, AS A DIDACTIC AND AMUSING STORY OF CARDIOLOGY.
RAUL M. MARCH MD

Anyone familiar with Dr. Braunwald's superb cardiovascular exploits in the "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" would not be surprised by the richness of this book.
The diligently crafted chapters are comprehensive, authoritative, well-illustrated, and include all the 'ins' and 'outs' of contemporary cardiology. It is one of the most consistent and coherent multi-authored texts in the field.
This single-volume CD-ROM package is a rich blend of evidence based medicine, best practice, and all the user-flexibility an e-book enthusiast would expect.

Author Joe Franklin makes a compelling case that leadership is as much "caught as taught." That it, you probably can't learn it just by reading books. A former West Pointer, he sees the US Military Academy as an ultimate laboratory for grooming leaders and it is hard to argue with that.

Each chapter focuses on one aspect of leadership. Critics may chide that it sounds like a list of Boy Scout virtues. Real world examples - sometimes a bit too self-congratulatory - illustrate the points that Franklin develops.

Mostly we know what it takes to be a good leader. The kicker is doing it! No book can do that for you but Franklin's book is a motivational and instructive blast for those who are looking to hone their leadership skills in any arena - government, military, business, private life, whatever. A worthwhile book!

In a very straightforward manner, the General builds a solid case for adhering to these principles. It's no wonder he was so successful in all his many undertakings.

Great book, stimulating, practical, and clearly written. The author balances inspirational stories with theoretical foundations so the reader is able to incorporate new ideas into the everyday world of management and teaching.

I was reading Leadership: Past, Present & Future by Carlos M. Rivera and he talks about West Point, so I wanted to know more about West Point and Leadership and this is a great book.
Every Leader should get both books.
5 Star book.
A keeper.

The foreword by General Norman Schwarzkopf is impressive (I would have put his name on the cover) and the author's declaration that, "everything I have accomplished and learned, successes earned and disappointments endured--can be traced back to my days at West Point" alerts readers, right from the start where this book is going. What surprised me--having known a few generals in my time--is the candor with which Major General Joseph P. Franklin, former Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at West Point, writes this. Who will benefit from it and why, is the broader question.

As an entrepreneur and author of a book on marketing, I know that business leaders don't take the time they should to read. When they do it is books with bulleted points, single page self-evaluations and faddish, over-simplified directives. One of the best ever, "In Search of Excellence," benefited from in-depth analysis of what worked in a variety of existing corporations. Here we are limited to Franklin's service experiences and the one or two top-level executive positions he has held since retirement. Would a young buck scrambling up the corporate ladder in these Enron/WorldCom days ask, "What are we doing...and why are we doing it?" or rather, "How can I get more, faster?"

I don't doubt the General's earnestness for a moment, only wish our politicians and current military leaders would at least appear to practice what he says. For example, while discussing honor he states: "What if there's a problem and they (company leaders) are asked to cover it up? The right person to step up to leadership will always answer: 'If that's the case, don't ask me to be in charge.'"

The chapter on "Faith" was the hardest for me to swallow. I understand what the General means when he says, "Those dedicated volunteers and their leaders (in Iraq) have two choices: they can be bitter and question their service and the leadership above them, or they can faithfully serve their leaders our country, and the assignments given them." It would be hard to follow someone who you didn't believe had faith in the mission and faith does play the major role in controlling fear, but as a Vietnam vet, I have to say, "yes, but..." And maybe he heard me because the next chapter begins with the quote: "It takes real courage to admit you're wrong."

On the other hand his chapter on "Compassion" reveals the man as well as the true meaning of leadership. His distinction between leadership and management is also useful. (There are callouts throughout the book that reinforce its message. Someone--probably the publisher--marked each of these with three stars. Their content stands on its own without an appeal to rank and, anyway, shouldn't it be two stars for a major general?) But talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Franklin's decision to measure the high radiation levels of a nuclear power plant at the Greenland ice cap by himself rather than put a subordinate in danger is truly inspirational.

My neighbor would love this book (in fact I am giving my copy to him). For years he owned a bakery and managed young workers. He also reads history and is very active in church work. Anyone who has had to make decisions that affect others but has afterwards ruminated long and hard about their consequences will gain perspective through chapters on duty, honor, faith, courage, perseverance, confidence, approachability, adaptability and compassion. Those are the ten principles Franklin discusses. Like Albert Schweitzer, the General believes "Ethics is our way of being human." That's a lesson not only for leaders but for the whole world. And we need to learn it now.

Excellent but I found the personal stories during their training were dull and boring. This is another Bush Did It Book and it is just too bad that the American public will never allow themselves to believe the content of this book or others like it. It is just too disturbing to the average readers formed view of the government.

Having worked as an OSI agent for a number of years, I can state with absolute certainty that this book not only feels and reads true, but that it is true...at least insofar as my experiences are concerned. Mr. Bucci's name circulated throughout many a classified briefing in my days, leading many of us to wonder if he was a real agent or merely a mythic character created to scuttle rumors and inuendos of clandestine operations hatched but never consemated. The only difference between Mr. Bucci and myself is that he had the guts--if not the stupidity--to write about his drug war experiences. Hell, writing this review alone has my ulcer trickling.

I echoe the sentiments of my fellow reviewers who commented that this would make for a very cinematic motion picture. I only hope Hollywood doesn't change a single word. Oh yeah, and a note to the editor, if you plan to release more copies in the future...and I strongly suggest that you do...add more to the ending (I felt left hanging a bit) and use the latest version of spell-check. Besides that little problem, however, this was the best, truly the best book I have ever read...and I read constantly!

Straight out of today's headlines...this book should go straight to Hollywood.

A good read, highly recommended!

My stomach hurt with laughter, my heart ached with pain and my body was ravaged with nerves. This book should come with a disclaimer: "Do not read if you have any health problems! If symptoms persist, put down and read again at a later date. The problem is, however, you can't put the darn thing down. When is his next book coming out? I can't wait! My HMO might feel otherwise, though. And not that it matters, but as an ex-DEA agent I now understand why I saw, or didn't see the thing I should have seen...if you catch my drift.

When Ken Bucchi's book was slipped to me last summer, I have to admit I was skeptical. I mean, come on. How many times have we heard about the CIA's complicity in the drug trade? After reading it, though, I was as hooked as the people who review the book below. It really is a gripping read, drips with authenticity (if you've been lucky enough to have met or talked with Ken, you KNOW the book is true) and begs to be turned into a movie.

I've read every biography of Caesar I can find, but Gelzer's is by far the best. Gelzer is careful in his scholarship and restrained in his writing style, but the book is nevertheless an utterly fascinating account of a multi-faceted genius of inexhaustable energy, who was clearly one of the most formidible men of all time.

If Gelzer fails, it is in his unchecked adoration for Caesar - he will bring the issues to light but fail to pass judgment on them. Nevertheless, there is a reason why Gelzer's work has continued to amaze: his analysis, style and brevity make him a true delight for the interested student. The book follows a good outline, spending most of the book concerning his consulship, the proconsulship and the civil war. Gelzer tries to keep things as objective as possible, but cannot help from pronouncing judgments on Caesar's actions, in particular his command decisions and how he plays the senators in Rome. I have always been in awe of Caesar and the book doesn't fail to show his ugly side, following his victories over the rebels and his continual stockpiling of powers and privileges leading up to his death in 44. A well-reasoned, comprehensive and concise book on one of history's great politicians and generals. A must-read.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history.

Pompey's apex of power and glory was in 61 BCE, when he returned to Rome to receive his third triumph after his victories in the Middle East, brought new territory and treasure to Rome. With his sterling military reputation and great personal wealth, one would have thought that Pompey could dictate terms to the senate. However, Marcus Porcius Cato 95-46 BCE and his optimate party associates in the Senate, fearful of Pompey's power and ambition and wanting to protect their own political oligarchy, were successful in keeping political power out of his hands. Not only did Cato force Pompey to disband his legions as a condition of his receiving his triumph in Rome, he also embarrassed Pompey by insuring that the Senate did not make any land grants to Pompey's veterans. These actions weakened Pompey's political strength. It kept him from giving out positions of patronage to his supporters and it also lost him favor in the eyes of his veterans. As a result, it also had the effect of making him look like a political weakling when he would later try to stop the ambitious Julius Caesar. Once again, Plutarch observed that although Pompey may have been a great military general, he was no match for others as a political leader. "And well had it been for him had he terminated his life at this date, while he still enjoyed Alexander's fortune, since all his aftertime served only either to bring him prosperity that made him odious, or calamities too great to be retrieved."

While Cato and the Senate were going out of their way to quench Pompey's fiery ambitions, Julius Caesar started to make his grab for power over Rome. Matthias Gelzer's biography of Julius Caesar is an excellent in-depth analysis of Caesar's life. Caesar hailed from one of the minor and less politically active patrician families. Although a senator's son, Caesar's standing in society was first improved by the fact that Marius became his uncle by marriage. Secondly, to further his own political career he married Cornelia, the daughter of the Roman consul Cinna. In 80 BCE Julius Caesar embarked on a military career and made his mark quickly as an able military commander. Gelzer observed that early in Caesar's life he already mastered "how to exploit his talents to the full...he was already a respected orator and, a dashing officer that had shown bravery." Gelzer pointed out that there were two dominant political parties in Rome at the time. The optimates were dominated by the conservatives who worked to protect the prestige of the senate, the rich, and the status quo of Rome. The populares party that Caesar belonged to, played to the lower class multitudes of Rome in deed and word.

By 59 BCE Caesar had made several moves in his life which furthered his political career and gained him his first consulship of Rome. Caesar worked hard at getting the two most powerful men in Rome, Pompey and Marcus Licinius Crassus 115-53 BCE, to reconcile their differences. Crassus was a businessman and the richest man in Rome. Caesar further allied himself politically with Pompey by giving his daughter, Julia, some thirty years Pompey's junior, in marriage to him. All three men banded together in a triumvirate to wrest power from the optimates in the senate. Their vehicle for doing this was to bring about a new agrarian law over the strenuous opposition of the optimate senators. The agrarian law that Caesar introduced as counsel served several purposes. It was helpful in relieving the overcrowded conditions in Rome by allowing landless people the ability to settle on uncultivated land in Italy. In addition, some of this land would also be used to finally reward Pompey's veterans that had been loyal to him. Of course, it would be extremely popular with the multitude of Roman citizens who owned little if any property. In order to insure the passage of the bill, Pompey put the word out to his veterans to come to Rome where they made their presence known by running off the opposition senators out of the forum while Caesar was advocating for the passage of the bill in a speech to the people. Gelzer astutely points out "Caesar's...agrarian laws show him as a politician with an outstanding talent for dealing with social problems." The nasty political fight between Caesar and the optimates earned him some serious political enemies. However, with the help in the Senate from his political allies the populares and from Pompey, Caesar was appointed a proconsul of the province of Cisalpine Gaul. This province was a part of northern Italy, which he was to rule for five years. Soon there after, the governor of Gaul, a territory beyond the Alps, died and this territory was added to Caesar's territory. Though the future looked bright for Rome in 59 BCE, the greed and distrust between the two strongest military leaders of the triumvirate would eventually cause Pompey and Caesar to become enemies and turn on each other in their quest for ultimate power in Rome.

Most historians observed that Caesar's new appointments gave him command of four legions, the ability to win prestige in battle, and to acquire much booty during his conquest of Gaul. Few in Rome, most importantly Pompey, could have imagined that "by the brilliance of his generalship, and the swiftness and totality of his conquests...this loquacious and unprincipled politician could achieve so much." Caesar spent nine years in Gaul, and by 50 BCE, his army grew in number to twelve legions. Caesar's army was made up of many battle hardened professionals. In addition, Caesar's successes made it easy for him to gain new volunteers to swell his ranks. Caesar's soldiers and many of his officers were undoubtedly motivated by money and pride, which kept them loyal to Caesar. These accomplishments served to secure Caesar's unrivaled political standing. It was Caesar's loyalty from the army coupled with the treasure necessary to buy favor of the Roman citizenry that gave him the political power necessary to conquer Rome. One can also see from Caesar's actions that he learned well from his uncle Marius on how to raise an army and keep its loyalty. These lessons were also learned by his successor Octavian. However, Caesar's success in conquering Rome would not happen without fighting a bitter Civil War against the optimates in the Senate who were allied with Pompey.

Gelzer meticulously wrote about the events which led to the ensuing Civil War. In 51 BCE, the optimates now allied with Pompey in the Senate, tried to have Caesar recalled to Rome so that they could put him on trial for misconduct. Caesar knew that he needed to hold onto his position in Gaul and run in abstentia for consul in 49 BCE, so that he could have a political office to protect him from prosecution by his enemies. Though much political bargaining went on between Caesar, Pompey and the Senate, by 49 BCE the Senate voted to deliver Caesar an ultimatum. "Caesar was to dismiss his army by a fixed date on pain of being regarded a public enemy." If Caesar followed the dictates of the Senate, he would have been a private citizen for six months and open to his enemies for reprisal. Thus on January 10, 49 BCE, Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon River, even though it was against ancient Roman law. This action automatically made Julius Caesar an enemy of the state and precipitated a bloody Civil War that changed the course of Roman history. Upon hearing the news of Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon, Pompey ordered all senators and citizens who considered themselves patriots of Rome to flee the city. Pompey was overconfident that Caesar would not enter Rome and told his followers he would easily raise the legions necessary to stop Caesar. Pompey was wrong on both counts. Caesar felt he had no choice in his actions, and throughout the Civil War he went out of his way to protect both the property and the honor of all the people who he captured. In addition, Caesar pled his case, explaining the untenable circumstances in which Pompey and the Senate placed him, and implored all of his former enemies to join his side in the Civil War. Caesar was quite successful in this endeavor. While Caesar was chasing Pompey to Brundisium, he spent over a week in Rome setting up a government and instituting legislation that restored economic security to the country. In the mean time, Pompey took his army to Brundisium and narrowly escaped Caesar's advancing army by ship to the Greek peninsula. By 48 BCE, the deciding battle was fought in Pharsalus, with Pompey's army outnumbering Caesar's by two to one. However, Pompey's mainly inexperienced soldiers were no match for Caesar's battle tested soldiers. Pompey lost the battle and fled by sea to Egypt where he was later murdered, much to Caesar's chagrin. Caesar went on to conquer Egypt and installed Cleopatra as his regent on the throne, and then returned to Rome in triumph. The Senate showered Caesar with all manner of honors heretofore never bestowed on any other man of Rome. In addition, the Senate made him Dictator for ten years. He accepted the honors and new powers while repeatedly remarking that he would work towards reconciliation with his former enemies and would not become a despot. "He had only fought the Civil War to save himself from dishonour. His victorious army had done battle to protect its rights and Caesar's dignity."

Gelzer wrote admiringly on how quickly Caesar went to work instituting new reforms in order to fix the decades of social and political problems of the Roman Empire that the Republic could not cope with while under the Senate. In addition, Caesar traveled to all of the provinces in the Empire, which showed the people that he cared about their welfare, and made them more loyal to him. Militarily Caesar discharged all of his veteran legions except one, making sure that each of the soldiers received land in Italy and southern France. This insured that they would stay loyal to Caesar personally. From his very able military staff, Caesar picked men to fill ministerial positions throughout the empire, which also strengthened his hand politically. It is a pity that Caesar had only two years to institute a Pax Romana before he was brutally assassinated. However, what social, political, and military reforms Caesar started would come to fruition under Caesar Augustus, his heir and Rome's ruler for forty-five years.

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

If you are interested in the final years of the Roman Republic
or Julius Caesar, this book is for you. I first read Anthony
Everitt's Cicero (which I liked) and it's brief discussions of
Caesar were enough to pique my interest in further study of Caesar.
After researching a bit, Gelzer's biography seemed to be the most
lauded- and having read it- rightly so.

The level of detail in this book is incredible. There are
hundreds of footnotes indicating sources and often containing
quotes in their original language which is as often Greek as it
is Latin. Gelzer really shows us the genius and abilities of
this most fascinating man- perhaps the boldest, most brilliant
military commander in history- not to mention an equally talented
politician! Caesar deserves our attention.

If you can handle great detail and really want to know Caesar and his times, you will like this book.

If you're looking for an unbiased, brilliant account of Gaius Julius Caesar's life then look no further; you've found it!

However, I do have a warning. This book is of the "old-school" variety. It is a mass of facts and is pretty dry reading for the most part. Its not like the more recent historybooks I'm used to reading (I'm 21). However, one can't help be sucked in to the saga of Caesar and the fall of the republic.

This is not only a dry book; it is a wise book as well. It is a book that should be read for the sake of the knowledge it contains even if it is not as polished as Rubicon or The Assassination of Julius Caesar.

One of the most profound statements in the book was when Mr. Gregory was explaining racism, and I quote "Those old illiterate Negroes were all the White folks had to validate who they were. Could you imagine being a redneck who knew he was an illiterate cracker, and who knew that, as White as he was, he could never be president of the USA? As white as he was, he was never going to drive a Mercedes or go to Paris. So the only thing a redneck had to play with was niggers." and that is why when civil rights workers started educating the black folks about slavery the white rednecks were willing to kill to keep them. Because they were not only taking their niggers they were taking their dignity and self respect.

Dick Gregory's memoir is among the most honest and touching autobiographies available today. From the first page, I was drawn into his experience as if I were actually transitioning through pre-Civil Rights Era, the Movement, and the post-era that has evolved into today. Sometimes the pain of Gregory's experiences was so real that I literally felt the dull pain of sympathy in my gut, the tragic feeling that accompanies love or indignation. Callus On My Soul was a history lesson that will never appear on the pages of American textbooks, and a reality check that I will never forget.

Brother Greg believes O.J. is innocent. That is hard to believe, and there is some paranoia with his thinking. Conspiracy theories make for good fiction, but some of it is enlightening and believable. Mr. Gregory is a great man, and has a lot of knowledge. He is very smart. He is very funny, but he is also obsessed. If he calms down, he would do better. I love him. He is trying so hard to stop world hunger, and wants people to be slim and trim, and not fat as a pig. He wants justice. If people were more like Mr. Gregory, the world would be a much better place.

With choices come sacrifice, and in Dick Gregory's book CALLUS ON MY SOUL, he tells the story of his life and shares with readers both the positive things he gained and the things he has had to forego as a result of his decisions. He tells of his childhood, which included a life of poverty, racism, and an absentee father. But more importantly, Gregory shares how he learned as a child to use humor as a way to transcend his difficult life experiences and gain peer acceptance. This would serve as an omen for the important role that comedy would play in his later life. As Gregory tells of his developing career as a comedian, readers quickly see the sacrifices that he and his family made in order to achieve the level of fame that he ultimately became known for. A great portion of the book is dedicated to Gregory's experiences and commitment to social causes. He relates to readers his experiences in the civil rights and human rights struggles, and tells of his personal experiences with both noteworthy and little known social activists. He tells of how he and other activists sacrificed their careers, physical safety, and time with family in order to stand up for what they believe in.

Because Dick Gregory has played such an integral role in so many historical events relating to civil and human rights, this book is so much more than a memoir. Anyone who picks this book up receives a new insight into many of the events that shaped the history of the United States. In addition, Gregory shares his own political views and opinions with a boldness and clarity that makes it evident that he is indeed an activist at heart. He also tells of the unwavering support of his wife and ten children as he fasted, went on cross country marathons, and even traveled the world leaving them at home. CALLUS ON MY SOUL is a political, historical, and personal account of a man who has dedicated much of his life to a number of worthy causes.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I am so awed and inspired by reading Dick Gregory's latest book. His life reads like an adventure through the most turbulent times of the 20th century. Friend to presidents, civil rights leaders, and industry giants, Dick Gregory doesn't fail to enlighten, inspire and fascinate the reader. He has been there done that for over 35 years. Now that our country faces a crisis, I hope Dick Gregory will be there for us with his commentary, his insight and wisdom.

I wish he would have written more about his successes in the '80's with his weight loss programs, his work with the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) and his circumcision trauma, the Black Panther party, Tupac Shakur, the Bush family, and his vision for the future.

Ah, but hopefully his next book will include that! I recommend this book highly. I only wish I could hear him lecture in person.